Ichilo River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ichilo River |
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Confluence of the Ivirgarzama River and the Ichilo River, and of the Chimoré River and the Ichilo River to the Mamoré River (north is to the upper right corner of this ISS image)
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| Country | Bolivia |
| Region | Cochabamba Department, Santa Cruz Department |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Mamoré River |
| Length | 390 km (240 mi) |
The Ichilo River is an important river in Bolivia, a country in South America. It flows near the bottom of the Eastern Andes mountains. This river is so important that a part of Bolivia, called Ichilo Province, is named after it. This province is one of 15 in the Santa Cruz Department.
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Where the Ichilo River Starts
The Ichilo River begins in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Its source is in the Manuel Maria Caballero Province. Here, it starts at a height of about 2,437 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level. At its very beginning, it is called Alto Ichilo, which means "Upper Ichilo".
As the river flows, it joins with the San Matéo River. After this point, it is known as the Ichilo River. It flows mostly north. For some of its journey, it forms the natural border between the Cochabamba Department and the Santa Cruz Department.
How the Ichilo River Flows
The Ichilo River is a long and powerful river in Bolivia. It is about 632 kilometers (393 miles) long on its own. The water from a large area, about 15,660 square kilometers (6,046 square miles), drains into it.
The Ichilo River has a lot of water. It can be quite deep, reaching up to 18.6 meters (61 feet) in some places. This deep spot is found just below a town called Puerto Villarroel. The river can also be very wide, up to 420 meters (1,378 feet) across.
Rivers That Join the Ichilo
Many other rivers flow into the Ichilo River. These are called tributaries. Some of the most important tributaries of the Ichilo are:
- the Río Grande
- the Chapare
- the Piraí
- the Sacta
- the Víbora
- the Chimoré
- the Choré
- the Ibaresito
- the Ibabo
- the Useuta
Cities Near the River
The Ichilo River flows near some important areas in Bolivia. It passes to the west of Santa Cruz, which is a very large city. The biggest town located directly on the banks of the Ichilo River is Puerto Villarroel.
