Reventazón River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reventazón River |
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| Countries | Costa Rica |
| Provinces | Cartago, Limón |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Agua Caliente River and Grande de Orosi River 9°48′42″N 83°51′04″W / 9.8117°N 83.8511°W |
| River mouth | Parismina River 10°17′07″N 83°24′39″W / 10.2852°N 83.4107°W |
| Length | 145 kilometres (90 mi) |
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The Reventazón River is a very important river in Costa Rica. In Spanish, it is called Río Reventazón. It plays a big role in providing water and electricity for the country.
Contents
Geography of the Reventazón River
The Reventazón River is part of a larger river system called the Reventazón-Parismina drainage basin. It is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) long. This river flows all the way to the Caribbean Sea.
The river starts near the Irazú Volcano. It then flows through the eastern part of Costa Rica's Central Valley. It also passes through the beautiful Orosí and Turrialba Valleys. After reaching the flat lands near the Caribbean coast, it joins the Parismina River. Together, they form what is known as the Reventazón-Parismina system.
How the River Helps Costa Rica
The Reventazón River is very important for the people and economy of Costa Rica. It helps in several key ways.
Providing Drinking Water
In its upper parts, the Reventazón River provides a lot of fresh water. About 25% of the drinking water for San Jose comes from this river. San Jose is the largest city area in Costa Rica.
Generating Electricity
The river is also super important for making electricity. Costa Rica uses the river's power to create a lot of its electricity. There are three big dams and reservoirs on the river:
- Lake Cachí (which makes 100.8 megawatts of power)
- Angostura (which makes 177 megawatts)
- Reventazón Dam (which makes 305.5 megawatts)
The Reventazón Dam was finished and opened in 2016. These dams help Costa Rica get a large part of its electricity from clean, renewable sources.
Fun for Tourists: Whitewater Rafting
The Reventazón River is also a popular spot for tourism. Many people enjoy whitewater rafting on the river. The "Florida section" of the river has exciting rapids. These rapids are usually rated as Class 2-3, which means they are fun but not too difficult for most rafters.
River Ecosystem
The Reventazón River is home to different kinds of fish. One special fish found here is the bobo mullet (Joturus pichardi). This fish is native to the Parismina River, which connects to the Reventazón. Local people often catch these fish for food. Sometimes, they are also caught to be sold.
See also
In Spanish: Río Reventazón para niños
