Poxte River facts for kids

The Poxte River is a river found in the Maya Mountains of Guatemala. It flows through a special valley known for many ancient Maya sites. These include famous places like Ixtutz and the Petén Caves.

Where is the Poxte River?

The Poxte River is located in the Petén department of Guatemala. It lies southwest of the Dolores Plateau. It is also northwest of a town called Poptún.

The River's Start and Journey

The river begins on the Dolores Plateau. Its source is close to the villages of Boca del Monte and Santo Domingo. From there, the Poxte River flows towards the west. It passes through a small village also named Poxte.

After this, the river seems to disappear underground. This happens in an area with karst topography, which has lots of limestone caves and sinkholes. The river then reappears about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) to the west.

Flowing to the Sea

The Poxte River continues its journey westward. It eventually joins the San Juan River. The San Juan River is a smaller stream that flows into the Machaquila River. The Machaquila River then feeds into the larger Pasión River.

Finally, the Pasión River flows into the mighty Usumacinta River. The Usumacinta River is one of the most important rivers in Central America. It carries the water all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Interestingly, the upper part of the Poxte River shares its water area with the Mopan River. The Mopan River flows in the opposite direction, eastward, and empties into the Caribbean Sea.

The Poxte Valley

The valley where the Poxte River flows is quite large. It measures about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) long. It is also about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) wide.

Land Use in the Valley

The river valley's drainage system is a bit complex and broken up. Much of the natural forest in the valley has been cleared. This land is now mostly used for grazing cattle.

Modern and Ancient Sites

Several modern villages are found in the Poxte valley. These include Las Nuevas Delicias, La Lucha, Santo Domingo, and Boca del Monte.

The valley is also home to many important Maya archaeological sites. These ancient places include:

• Chaquix
• Curucuitz
• El Eden 2
• Ixcoxol 1, 2, and 3
• Ixtutz
• La Lucha
• Machaca 2
• Nocsos
• Nuevas Delicias 1, 2, and 3
• Poxte 1 and 2
• San Luis Pueblito
• Tesik

The valley also has interesting cave systems. One well-known system is called Balam Na, which is also known as Sebanal.

See also