Ica River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ica River |
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Pan-American Highway crossing the Ica in the dry period
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 Location of mouth
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| Country | Peru |
| Regions | Huancavelica, Ica |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 14°52′15″S 75°33′43″W / 14.870886°S 75.561981°W |
| Length | 220 km (140 mi) |
The Ica River is a river in Peru, a country in South America. It flows for about 220 kilometers (around 137 miles). This river starts high up in the mountains of the Huancavelica Region and flows south. It eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean, passing through the Ica Region and the city of Ica, which is the capital of that region.
Contents
The Ica River's Journey
The Ica River begins its journey in the highlands of the Huancavelica Region. From there, it travels south, making its way through the dry coastal plains of the Ica Region. The river is very important for the people living in the Ica valley, as it provides water for farming and daily life.
Water Levels and Floods
For much of the year, the Ica River can be quite dry. This is because the region it flows through gets very little rain. However, when there are heavy rains, especially during events like El Niño, the river can flood. These floods can cause a lot of damage. For example, in 1998, a big flood hit the city of Ica, causing major problems.
Climate Around the River
The area around the Ica River, especially the Ica valley, has a very dry climate. It gets only about 3 millimeters (which is less than an inch) of rain each year. The temperature stays pretty much the same throughout the year. The warmest month is February, with an average temperature of about 25°C (77°F). The coolest month is July, with an average of about 17°C (63°F).
The River's Catchment Area
A river's catchment area (also called a drainage basin) is all the land where water collects and flows into that river. The natural catchment area for the Ica River was about 7,711 square kilometers (about 2,977 square miles). To help increase the water supply for the region, a special project added more land to this area. This project used water from a lake called Chuqlluqucha, adding another 392 square kilometers (about 151 square miles) to the river's water source.
See also
In Spanish: Río Ica para niños
- Ica (disambiguation)
- List of rivers of Peru
- List of rivers of the Americas by coastline
