Tárcoles River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tárcoles River |
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View from near Carara
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| Country | Costa Rica |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cordillera Central |
| River mouth | Gulf of Nicoya 0 m (0 ft) 9°47′11″N 84°38′28″W / 9.786315°N 84.641175°W |
| Length | 111 km (69 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,121 km2 (819 sq mi) |
The Tárcoles River, also known as the Grande de Tárcoles River, is an important river in Costa Rica. It starts on the southern side of the Cordillera Central mountains. From there, it flows southwest until it reaches the Gulf of Nicoya.
This river is about 111 kilometers (69 miles) long. Its watershed, which is the area of land that drains into the river, covers about 2,121 square kilometers (819 square miles). This area is home to about half of Costa Rica's population!
Contents
River's Path and Environment
The Tárcoles River's watershed collects a lot of the water and materials from the land around it. Sadly, about 67% of the untreated waste from homes and factories in Costa Rica ends up in this river. This makes it the most polluted river basin in the country.
The upper parts of the river create the northern edge of the Carara National Park. This park is a special place where many animals live.
Amazing Wildlife of Tárcoles River
The Tárcoles River and its nearby areas are home to a huge variety of animals. It's a great spot for wildlife lovers!
Reptiles and Amphibians
One of the most famous residents of the Tárcoles River is the American crocodile. You can often see these large reptiles in the water. Other reptiles found here include caimans, which are smaller relatives of crocodiles. You might also spot the quick common basilisk lizard, sometimes called the "Jesus Christ lizard" because it can run on water! Large iguanas are also easy to see.
Birds of the River
The marshes near where the river meets the ocean are a paradise for waterfowl and wading birds. There are many different kinds of herons and egrets. Some unique birds include the boatbill and the bare-throated tiger heron.
Other interesting birds you might find are the double-striped thick-knee, the mangrove warbler, and the tiny American pygmy kingfisher.
In total, over 320 different bird species have been seen here! This includes rare birds like the Agami Heron, Rufous-necked Woodrail, Jabiru, and Yellow-billed Cotinga. An Orinoco Goose was also recently spotted.
Mammals and Other Creatures
The area around the Tárcoles River is also home to many mammals. You can often see howler monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees.
If you're lucky, you might spot some shyer animals. These include the Silky Anteater, Sloths, Grison, Jaguarundi (a type of wild cat), River Otter, and Northern Tamandua (another type of anteater).
See also
In Spanish: Río Grande de Tárcoles para niños
