Huallaga River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huallaga River
A view of the Huallaga
Map of the Amazon Basin with the Huallaga River highlighted
Country	Peru
Region	Huánuco Region, Loreto Region, Pasco Region, San Martín Region
Physical characteristics
River mouth	Marañón River
Length	1,080 km (670 mi)

The Huallaga River is a large river in Peru. It flows into the Marañón River, which is a major part of the huge Amazon Basin. Some old names for this river were Guallaga and Rio de los Motilones.

The Huallaga River starts high up in the Andes mountains in central Peru. It joins the Marañón River before the Marañón meets the Ucayali River. Together, these rivers form the mighty Amazon River. Important smaller rivers that flow into the Huallaga include the Monzón, Mayo, Biabo, Abiseo, and Tocache rivers.

Exploring the Huallaga River

The Huallaga River is about 700 miles (1,100 km) long. However, it's quite wild and hard to travel on for most of its length. The river rushes through many deep valleys called gorges. It has 42 fast-flowing sections known as pongos. One famous part is the Pongo de Aguirre gorge, where the river cuts through the Andes.

From a point about 140 miles (225 km) from the Amazon River, larger boats can travel up the Huallaga. These boats can reach the port city of Yurimaguas in the Loreto Region.

Sections of the River

People often talk about the Huallaga River in different sections, even though there are no exact dividing lines.

• The Upper Huallaga usually refers to the part from the town of Tocache in San Martin up to where the river begins.
• The Central Huallaga is often considered the part from Tocache or Juanjui to Chazuta.
• The Lower Huallaga typically runs from Chazuta to Yurimaguas, where the Huallaga joins the Marañón River.

These sections are just for general reference. They are different from the "highland" and "lowland" areas of the Amazon Rainforest.

The Pampa del Sacramento

Between the Huallaga River and the Ucayali River is a famous area called the "Pampa del Sacramento." This is a flat land with no stones, covered in thick, dark forests. Christian missionaries first explored this area in 1726.

The Pampa del Sacramento is about 300 miles (480 km) long from north to south. It is between 40 and 100 kilometers wide. Many small streams, which are good for canoes, flow into this region from both the Ucayali and Huallaga rivers. Besides local farmers, many native communities, like the Cocama-Cocamilla, still live here.

Wildlife and Plants of the Huallaga

The Huallaga River is home to a huge variety of animals and plants. The river is especially rich in different kinds of amphibians, like frogs. So far, 18 different species of frogs have been found here. Some examples include the Epipedobates boulengeri, Hyloxalus pulchellus, and Ranitomeya reticulata.

Historical Events on the River

An actor named Eric Fleming sadly drowned in the Huallaga River. He was famous for playing Gil Favor in the TV show Rawhide. On September 28, 1966, while filming a movie called High Jungle on the Huallaga River, his canoe flipped over. He fell into the fast-moving water and was lost. His body was found three days later.

See also

In Spanish: Río Huallaga para niños

• Aqumayu
• Vladimiro Montesinos
• Huallaga Province