Motagua River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Motagua River |
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The Motagua River during the dry season
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The Motagua River, flowing from the highlands in western Guatemala to the coast at the Guatemala–Honduras border
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| Countries | Guatemala and Honduras |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Quiché Department 1,800 m (5,900 ft) 14°56′57″N 91°00′32″W / 14.94917°N 91.00889°W |
| 2nd source | Baja Verapaz Department |
| River mouth | Gulf of Honduras in the Atlantic Ocean Puerto Barrios 0 m (0 ft) 15°43′29″N 88°13′18″W / 15.72472°N 88.22167°W |
| Length | 486.55 km (302.33 mi) |
| Depth |
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| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 12,670 km2 (4,890 sq mi) |
The Motagua River is a long river in Guatemala, stretching about 486 kilometers (302 miles). It starts high up in the mountains of western Guatemala and flows east all the way to the Gulf of Honduras. The area of land that drains into the Motagua River, called its basin, is the biggest in Guatemala, covering about 12,670 square kilometers (4,892 square miles).
The Motagua River valley is famous for having a special type of jade stone called jadeitite. Many ancient groups of people who lived in this area used this jade. Sadly, the Motagua River is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It sends about two percent of all global plastic pollution into our oceans each year. Because of this, the government and other groups are working hard to clean up the river and protect the ocean.
Contents
The River's Journey
The Motagua River begins its journey in the western highlands of Guatemala. It flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, passing through 14 of Guatemala’s departments. Along its path, the river goes through seven different natural areas, each with its own unique plants and animals.
Many smaller rivers, called tributaries, flow into the Motagua River along its course. The last few kilometers of the river actually form part of the border between Guatemala and Honduras. The river finally empties into the Gulf of Honduras at El Quetzalito Beach on the Guatemalan coast.
The Motagua River valley is also where the Motagua Fault is located. This fault is a place where two huge pieces of Earth's crust, the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, meet. Because of this fault, the Motagua area has experienced several big earthquakes in Guatemala.
Ancient History of the Motagua River
The valley where the Motagua River flows is the only known place in Mesoamerica (an ancient region covering parts of Central America and Mexico) where a special type of jade, called jadeitite, can be found. This green jade was very important to ancient groups like the Aztec and Maya people.
An American geologist named William F. Foshag rediscovered this green jade in the 1950s, after a local farmer showed him where to look. Later, in 2002, an even rarer blue-green jade, which was used by the Olmec people, was found further north of the river.
The Olmecs are thought to have settled in the Motagua River valley around 3000 BC. They used the blue-green jade to create amazing figures, masks, and ornaments. The Maya likely came to the Motagua River valley around 2000 BC. They used the green jade to make beads and amulets. These jade objects were often used in religious ceremonies or to show how wealthy someone was.
The ancient Maya city of Copán, located along the river, has many ruins of monuments and religious buildings. Another important Maya site, Quirigua, is also close to the river's north bank. Several smaller sites with jade quarries (places where jade was dug up) and workshops have also been found nearby.
The Motagua River was also a very important trade route during the Pre-Columbian era, which means the time before Christopher Columbus arrived. This river helped people trade goods, share ideas, and even travel to different places. We know this because jade items and special types of pottery have been found in many different regions across Mesoamerica, showing how goods were moved along the river.
River Pollution
The Motagua River faces serious pollution problems.
How Pollution Started
Pollution in the river was first reported in 2003. This happened when industrial waste (trash and chemicals from factories) from a power plant in Guatemala City flowed into the river. This waste was carried by the Río Las Vacas, one of the Motagua's smaller rivers that flows into it. People living along the river were told not to use the dirty water for drinking, cooking, or cleaning.
Water Quality Issues
The water quality in Guatemala's rivers is generally poor. This is because there aren't enough rules or ways to make sure river water stays clean. Also, the rules that do exist often don't clearly say who is responsible for keeping the water clean, and they haven't been properly put into action. Even though people have tried to pass new laws to improve water quality, these efforts have often taken many years in the Guatemalan Congress.
The Motagua River is very polluted with untreated sewage (dirty water from homes), industrial waste, and tons of sediment (like mud, sand, and garbage). All this comes from Guatemala City, carried by the Río Las Vacas. The Motagua River is one of the world’s most polluted rivers, sending about two percent of all plastic into the world’s oceans. People living along the river also add to the pollution, as each person throws away about 1.15 pounds of trash every day.
Effects of Pollution
When the pollution from the Motagua River reaches the Caribbean, it starts to harm the ocean environment. This is especially dangerous in marine protected areas in Honduras and Guatemala. These are special ocean areas where animals and plants are protected to keep many different species alive.
The pollution also affects the many Indigenous communities who depend on the river for their food and water. Plus, people living in coastal towns often have to clean up the trash themselves. They also lose money because pollution harms important jobs like fishing and tourism.
Working Towards Conservation
Even though the right to safe drinking water is a law in Guatemala, it's hard to achieve because of poor waste management and not enough government help. Many people in Guatemala's countryside work in farming, which means they need even more clean water.
The Guatemalan government has started to act by building "bio-fences." These are special barriers designed to catch trash flowing down the river. They have also worked with the Stockholm International Water Institute to create a plan called the National Water and Sanitation Policy. This plan has goals to improve rules and conservation efforts.
Other groups are also helping. For example, 4ocean’s Project Guatemala works with local governments and communities to stop waste from reaching the ocean. The Ocean Cleanup also chose the Motagua River to test its "Interceptor Trashfence." This fence tries to filter out solid trash as it flows down the river.
Tributaries
Many smaller rivers flow into the Motagua River. These are called tributaries.
Left Bank Tributaries
- Río Cocoyá
- Río Cotón
- Río Suchicul
- Río Morazán
- Río Comajá
- Río Lato
- Río Huijo
- Río La Palmilla
- Río Teculutan
- Río Pasabien
- Río Hondo
- Río Jones
- Río Los Achiotes
- Río Mayuelas
- Río El Lobo
- Quebrada Agua Fría
- Quebrada La Vegega
- Río Las Conchas
Right Bank Tributaries
- Río Chipaca
- Rio Agua Escondida
- Rio Quisaya
- Rio Pixcayá
- Río Cotzibal
- Río Las Vacas
- Río Grande
- Río Ovejas
- Río El Tambor
- Río San Vicente
- Río Grande o Zapaca
- Río Carí
- Río Las Naranjas
- Río Biafra
- Río El Islote
- Río Jubuco
- Río Lagarto
- Río Tepemechín
- Río Juyamá
- Río Bobos
- Río Animas
- Río Chiquito
- Río Nuevo o Cacao
See also
In Spanish: Río Motagua para niños
