Rio San Rodrigo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Río San Rodrigo |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Coahuila |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sierra Madre Oriental 1,260 m (4,130 ft) 28°56′56″N 101°43′39″W / 28.94889°N 101.72750°W |
| River mouth | Rio Grande El Moral, Coahuila, near Quemado, Texas 230 m (750 ft) 28°54′10″N 100°37′50″W / 28.90278°N 100.63056°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,717 km2 (1,049 sq mi) |
The Río San Rodrigo is a stream, which is a small river, located in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. It is a tributary of the Rio Grande. This means it flows into the Rio Grande, adding its water to the larger river.
The Río San Rodrigo joins the Rio Grande (which is called Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico) at a point about 834 kilometers (or 518 miles) from where the Rio Grande starts. This meeting point is near El Moral, Coahuila, and about 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Quemado, Texas.
The Río San Rodrigo begins in the Sierra del Burro mountains. These mountains are part of the larger Sierra Madre Oriental range. From its source, the river generally flows east until it reaches the Rio Grande.
About La Fragua Dam and Reservoir
A dam called La Fragua Dam was built on the Río San Rodrigo. This dam is located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from where the river meets the Rio Grande. The dam creates a large artificial lake known as La Fragua Reservoir.
The La Fragua Dam started working in 1991. The reservoir can hold a lot of water, about 36,482 acre-feet. This is equal to about 45 million cubic meters of water. Dams and reservoirs are important for storing water for people to use and sometimes for generating electricity.
A Look Back: History of the San Rodrigo Area
In 1849, a group of Seminole people traveled from what is now Oklahoma to Mexico. They wanted to start a new community there. This group included about 100 Seminoles and 100 Black Seminoles. They were led by Wild Cat, a famous Seminole chief, and John Horse, a leader of the Black Seminoles.
About 500 Kickapoos from Missouri also joined Wild Cat's group near Eagle Pass, Texas. In July 1850, the Mexican government allowed the group to settle in Mexico.
Wild Cat was given about 70,000 acres of land for his people. Half of this land was near where the Río San Rodrigo begins. The other half was near the start of the Rio San Antonio. However, people living nearby in Remolino were not happy about this. The local government then said that new lands would be found for the Native American groups. Even so, some of the people did eventually settle close to Remolino.
