Guadalquivir facts for kids
The Guadalquivir is a very important river in southern Spain. It flows through a region called Andalusia. Its name comes from an old Arab phrase, Wadi al-Kabir, which means "big river." The ancient Romans called it Betis.
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Where the River Starts and Ends
The Guadalquivir River begins high up in the mountains. It starts in a place called the Glen of the Sources, near Cazorla in the Jaen area. From there, it travels a long way. The river finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Sanlucar de Barrameda, which is in the Cadiz area.
Provinces the River Crosses
As the Guadalquivir flows, it passes through several Spanish provinces. These include Jaen, Cordoba, Seville, and Cadiz. It's a long journey across southern Spain.
How Long is the River?
The Guadalquivir River is about 657 kilometres (408 mi) long. That's a really long distance for a river! It collects water from many smaller rivers along its path.
Rivers That Join the Guadalquivir
Many smaller rivers flow into the Guadalquivir. These are called tributaries. On the left side, some important ones are the Genil River (which flows through Granada), the Minor Guadiana, Guadalbullon, and Guadajoz. On the right side, you'll find the Guadalmena, Jandula, and Guadiato rivers joining in.
A River for Ships
The Guadalquivir is special because it's the only river in Spain that ships can use. This means boats and ships can travel on it.
Today, ships can travel up the river as far as Seville. This makes Seville an important port city, even though it's not right on the coast. A long time ago, during the Roman Empire, ships could even go further up the river, all the way to Cordoba.
Images for kids
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1892 flood in Seville
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Roman bridge, Córdoba
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Map of Port of Seville showing existing (dark green) and abandoned river divisions (pale green)
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See also
In Spanish: Guadalquivir para niños
