Ranchería River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ranchería |
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Ranchería River Mouth in Riohacha
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Map of the Ranchería River watershed
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| Country | Colombia |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Southern La Guajira Department, North Eastern Magdalena Department Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia Approx. 3,000 m (9,800 ft) |
| River mouth | Caribbean Sea Riohacha, Colombia |
| Length | 150 km (93 mi) |
The Ranchería River (in Spanish: Río Ranchería) is an important river in northern La Guajira Department, Colombia. It starts high up in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The river first flows south, then turns northeast, and finally heads north. It ends its journey by flowing into the Caribbean Sea. This river is the main water source for the La Guajira region. It is also very important to the Wayuu people, who are the native people of this area.
The El Cercado Dam Project
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A big dam called "El Cercado" was planned in the 1950s. It was built in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The main goal of the dam was to provide water for farms and for people in at least nine towns.
However, some local groups, especially the indigenous communities from the Sierra Nevada, were worried. They felt that the river's water was being taken over by large landowners and the coal mining industry. One of the world's biggest open-pit coal mines, Cerrejón, is allowed to use about 16% of the river's water. The dam was finished in the mid-2000s.
The Ranchería River flows into a dry area in the northern lowlands. This region often does not have enough water. The plan for the dam included four stages of water management. But by 2021, only the dam itself was built. The pipes needed to carry water for farming were not connected.
Other parts of the project, like irrigation systems, water pipes for towns, and a power plant, were planned. However, these parts have not been finished. There have been concerns about how these projects were managed.
Floods in 2007
On April 22, 2007, the Ranchería River caused floods in the town of Manaure. This happened after three or four days of heavy rain. About 24 neighborhoods in Manaure were flooded. Also, around 30 rural communities in the area were affected. Parts of the city of Riohacha also saw flooding.
Around 1,250 families were impacted by the floods. Most of these families belonged to the Wayuu ethnic group. They had to be rescued by boats and jet skis. The Colombian Red Cross and the Colombian Civil Defense helped evacuate people. They also brought medical supplies and food to those in need.
The Governor of La Guajira, José González, visited the flooded areas. He asked the national government for help and support for the flood victims.
See also
In Spanish: Río Ranchería para niños
