San Juan River (Colombia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Río San Juan |
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Rivers in Colombia. The mouth of the San Juan is near the center of the country's Pacific coast
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| Country | Colombia |
| Region | Chocó Department |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cerro Caramanta, West Andes |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean near Buenaventura |
| Length | 380 km (240 mi) |
The San Juan River (also called Río San Juan in Spanish) is a really important river in Colombia. It flows into the huge Pacific Ocean after traveling through the Chocó Department. This river is about 380 kilometers (236 miles) long. It collects water from a large area of land, about 16,000 square kilometers (6,178 square miles). Near where it meets the ocean, the river spreads out into a big delta, which is like a fan-shaped area of land, covering almost 300 square kilometers (116 square miles). On average, a lot of water flows through the San Juan River every second – about 2,055 cubic meters (72,570 cubic feet) of water!
Contents
Where the San Juan River Flows
The San Juan River starts high up in the mountains of the West Andes. This is a part of the Andes mountain range. The river begins on a mountain called Cerro Caramanta.
The River's Journey to the Ocean
As the river gets closer to the Pacific Ocean, it forms a large delta. This delta is located just north of a special natural area called Bahía Málaga and the city of Buenaventura.
Mangrove Forests at the River's Mouth
Where the San Juan River meets the ocean, there are many tall mangrove trees. These trees grow in salty water and form thick forests. They are part of a special natural area known as the Esmeraldas-Pacific Colombia mangroves ecoregion. Mangroves are super important because they help protect the coastline and are home to many different animals.
How Much Water Flows in the San Juan River?
Scientists measure how much water flows in the San Juan River. This helps them understand the river better.
Monthly Water Flow
The chart below shows the average amount of water that flows in the San Juan River each month. This information was collected over 25 years at a place called Penitas station. The numbers are in cubic meters per second (m³/second).
Monthly average flow of San Juan River ( m³/second) measured at Penitas station
Data from 25 years
Animals Living in the San Juan River Area
The San Juan River and its surrounding areas are home to many different kinds of animals.
Reptiles of the River
- One special type of snake, called Dipsas sanctijoannis, lives only in the San Juan River watershed. It was even named after the river!
Fish in the River
- You can find fish like the Andinoacara biseriatus in the San Juan River. This fish is a type of Cichlid, which is a family of freshwater fish known for being colorful and having interesting behaviors.
See Also
- List of rivers of Colombia
- Pacific Region, Colombia
