Fuerte River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fuerte River |
|
|---|---|
The Fuerte River
|
|
Major rivers of Mexico, with Fuerte in the northwest of the country
|
|
 Location of mouth
|
|
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Sinaloa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | 25°48′N 109°25′W / 25.800°N 109.417°W |
| Length | 290 km (180 mi) |
The Fuerte River is an important river in Mexico. It flows through the state of Sinaloa in the northwestern part of the country. This river starts high up in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. It then travels all the way to the Pacific Ocean, emptying into the Gulf of California.
The River's Journey
The Fuerte River begins where two smaller rivers meet. These are the Rio Verde (sometimes called Rio San Miguel) and the Urique River. This meeting point is in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range.
From there, the Fuerte River flows mostly southwest. It travels about 290 kilometers (180 miles). It then reaches the Gulf of California. Its mouth is near Lechuguilla Island. This is about 43 kilometers (27 miles) west of the city of Los Mochis.
A very important dam was built on the river. It is called the Miguel Hidalgo Dam. This dam is located near the town of El Fuerte. It creates the largest reservoir in Sinaloa. This reservoir is named Embalse de Gustavo Diaz Ordaz.
The water from this reservoir is used a lot. It helps farmers grow crops in the northern part of Sinaloa and the southern part of Sonora states. This is called agricultural irrigation.
What's Special About the Fuerte River?
Around the Fuerte River, you can see many large mango farms. These farms grow a lot of mangoes. Most of these mangoes are sent to the United States.
The former capital city of Sinaloa, Sinaloa de Leyva, is also located on the river. It sits in the Fuerte River Valley. This area is in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.
See also
In Spanish: Río Fuerte para niños- Copper Canyon — the world's largest canyon system, formed by the six rivers that are the headwaters of the Fuerte River.
- List of longest rivers of Mexico
