Río de la Plata (Puerto Rico) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids La Plata River
La Plata River in 2007
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Guayama, Cayey, Comerío, Naranjito, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, and Dorado
Physical characteristics
Main source	Guayama, Puerto Rico 18°28′33″N 66°15′19″W / 18.47583°N 66.25528°W / 18.47583; -66.25528
River mouth	Atlantic Ocean, at Dorado
Length	46 mi (74 km)

The La Plata River (in Spanish, Río de la Plata) is the longest river in Puerto Rico. It starts in the southern part of the island and flows north. Eventually, it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Dorado. This area is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches.

The La Plata River is about 74 kilometers (46 miles) long. It begins in the mountains of Guayama, Puerto Rico, about 800 meters (2,625 feet) above sea level. As it travels, the river passes through several towns. These include Guayama, Cayey, Comerío, Naranjito, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, and Dorado. Along its way, the river also forms two important lakes: Carite Lake and La Plata Lake.

River Crossings: Famous Bridges
History of the La Plata River
Hurricane Maria's Impact
Protecting the River: Flood Control
Gallery
See also

River Crossings: Famous Bridges

Many bridges cross the La Plata River. One of the most famous is the Arenas Bridge in Cayey. This strong steel bridge was built way back in 1894. It was the longest bridge built by the Spanish in Puerto Rico at that time, and it's still used today!

Another impressive bridge is the Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge. This is a special type of bridge called a cable-stayed bridge. It connects the towns of Naranjito, Toa Alta, and Bayamon.

History of the La Plata River

The La Plata River in 2005

Long ago, the Taíno people, who were the native people of Puerto Rico, had a special name for this river. They called it "thoa," which means "mother." This ancient name is why two towns located near the river's mouth are called Toa Alta and Toa Baja.

Hurricane Maria's Impact

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. The La Plata River, which flows through the middle of Comerío, rose dramatically. The water level went up more than 3.3 meters (11 feet).

This caused huge floods and a lot of damage to the areas along the river. The hurricane destroyed many homes, businesses, the local school, and even the police station in Comerío. Other towns along the river also suffered a lot of damage.

Protecting the River: Flood Control

Because of past floods, the United States Army Corps of Engineers started a big project. This project aims to control flooding in the La Plata River basin. A basin is the area of land that drains into a river.

In mid-2018, they announced a budget of $500 million for this important work. The goal is to protect towns like Toa Baja from future floods caused by the river.