Patía River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patía River
Rivers in Colombia. Patía is in the far southwest
Location of mouth
Country	Colombia
Physical characteristics
Main source	Cordillera Occidental
River mouth	Pacific Ocean 0 m (0 ft) 2°15′36″N 78°40′47″W / 2.2599°N 78.6798°W / 2.2599; -78.6798
Length	400 km (250 mi)

The Patía River (called Río Patía in Spanish) is a very important river in southwestern Colombia. It flows for more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. This happens north of a city called Tumaco. The Patía River is actually the longest river on Colombia's Pacific Coast! Boats can travel on the last 90 kilometers (about 56 miles) of the river.

Where Does the Patía River Flow?

The Patía River starts in the Cauca Department of Colombia. This is south of the city of Popayán, near a town called Timbío. The river's source is in a special gap between two mountain ranges. These ranges are the Western Andes and the Central Andes. It starts very close to where the Cauca River also begins.

Journey to the Pacific Ocean

The Patía River flows west from the central mountains of Colombia. It cuts right through the Western Cordillera mountain range. Finally, it empties into the Pacific Ocean.

As the river travels, it passes through different types of natural areas:

• In its upper part, it flows through cool, misty cloud forests and mountain forests.
• The middle part of the river goes through a drier area. This region is known as the Patía Valley dry forests.
• The lower part, west of the Western Cordillera, flows through the wet Chocó jungles. These jungles are part of the Pacific region.

Rivers That Join the Patía

Many smaller rivers flow into the Patía River, making it bigger and stronger. These include the Quilcacé, Guachicono, Mayo, Juanambú, Pasto, and Guaitara rivers.

See also

• List of rivers of Colombia
• Pacific Region, Colombia

In Spanish: Río Patía para niños

Images for kids

• 

  A view of the Patía Valley.