Paraná River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paraná River |
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| Rio Paraná, Río Paraná | |
| River | |
 The Paraná River seen from Zárate, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
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| Countries |  Argentina,  Brazil,  Paraguay |
|---|---|
| Region | Mesopotamia, Argentina |
| Source | Paranaíba River and Grande River |
| - location | Brazil, Brazil |
| - elevation | 1,148 m (3,766 ft) |
| Source confluence | Paranaíba and Grande |
| Mouth | Rio de la Plata |
| - location | Atlantic Ocean, Argentina |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 4,880 km (3,032 mi) |
| Basin | 2,582,672 km² (997,175 sq mi) |
| Discharge | for mouth |
| - average | 17,290 m³/s (Expression error: Missing operand for round. cu ft/s) |
The Paraná River is a very important river in South Central South America. It flows through three countries: Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. It is about 4,880 kilometres (3,030 mi) long. This makes it the second longest river in South America, right after the Amazon River.
The name Paraná comes from a Tupi word. It is a shorter way of saying "para rehe onáva," which means "like the sea." This name shows how big and powerful the river is.
Contents
Where Does the Paraná River Flow?
The Paraná River begins in southern Brazil. It forms where two other rivers, the Paranaíba and the Grande, meet. From there, it flows south.
Eventually, the Paraná River joins the Paraguay River. Together, these rivers form a huge waterway system. The Paraná River finally empties into the Río de la Plata, which then flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Animals in the River
The Paraná River is home to many kinds of fish. Two popular types that people often catch here are the surubí and the sábalo. Fishing is an important activity for many communities along the river.
Power from the River
The Paraná River is also very important for making electricity. There are many large dams built along its path. Two of the most famous dams are the Yacyretá and the Itaipu. These dams use the river's strong flow to create hydroelectric power. This power helps light up homes and run businesses in the countries nearby.
Images for kids
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The sun rising over the Paraná River, from northeast of Rosario, Argentina
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Paraná River source at the border of the states of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais, in Brazil.
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A Container ship, traveling downstream by the city of Ramallo, Argentina
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An astronaut's photo showing a 29-kilometre (18 mi) stretch of the Paraná, just downstream from Goya, Argentina
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Paraná River in Posadas, Argentina
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Map of the Rio de la Plata Basin showing the Paraná River and its major tributaries
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See also
In Spanish: Río Paraná para niños
