Guadalete facts for kids
The Guadalete River is an important river in Spain. It flows mostly through the Province of Cádiz. The river starts high up in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. It travels for about 172 kilometers (107 miles). The Guadalete River finally flows into the Bay of Cádiz near the city of El Puerto de Santa Maria. Its name comes from an old Arabic phrase that means "River of Forgetfulness."
Where the River Flows
The Guadalete River starts in the mountains of Sierra de Grazalema. As it travels, it passes by several interesting places:
- Grazalema
- The Zahara Reservoir (a big lake made by a dam)
- Puerto Solano
- It even goes into Seville province for a short time before coming back to Cádiz province.
- Villamartín
- The Bornos Reservoir
- The Arcos Reservoir
- Arcos de la Frontera
- La Barca de la Florida
- Lomopardo and El Portal (which are close to Jerez de la Frontera)
Finally, the river reaches the Bay of Cádiz in the city of El Puerto de Santa María.
Dams and Greenways
Along its path, the Guadalete River has several dams. These dams create large lakes called reservoirs, like the Zahara and Bornos Reservoirs. These reservoirs help store water for people to use.
A cool bicycle path called the "Sierra Greenway" follows the river for about 36 kilometers (22 miles). This path used to be an old railroad line, but now it's a fun place for biking and walking.
River Branches
The Guadalete River also has smaller rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The biggest tributaries are the Guadalporcún and the Majaceite. The Majaceite joins the Guadalete after it passes Arcos de la Frontera.
Historic Importance
The Guadalete River has a long and interesting history. Long ago, it was a border between the lands of Christian people and Moorish people in Spain. Because of many battles, it was sometimes called the Río de los Muertos, which means "River of the Dead."
Some historians believe a very important battle happened near this river in the year 711. This was the Battle of Guadalete. In this battle, an invading Muslim army defeated the Visigothic army. This victory led to the Muslim conquest of Spain, which changed the history of the region for many centuries.
See also
- List of rivers of Spain
- San Pedro River, Cádiz
