Tecolutla River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tecolutla River |
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The Tecolutla River at Gutiérrez Zamora
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| Native name | Río Tecolutla (Spanish) |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Veracruz |
| City | Gutiérrez Zamora |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of the Necaxa and Apulco Rivers Espinal, Veracruz, Mexico 20°14′31″N 97°26′20″W / 20.242°N 97.439°W |
| River mouth | Gulf of Mexico Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico 20°28′30″N 97°00′00″W / 20.475°N 97.000°W |
| Length | 375 km (233 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 7,903 km2 (3,051 sq mi) |
The Tecolutla River is an important river in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. It is the main waterway for a historical and cultural area called Totonacapan. The name Tecolutla comes from an old language called Classical Nahuatl. It means "place of owls."
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About the Tecolutla River
The Tecolutla River is a big river in Veracruz, Mexico. It helps drain a large part of the state. The river gets its water from four main rivers. These rivers start in the Sierra Norte de Puebla mountains.
Where Does the River Start?
The Tecolutla River is fed by four rivers. They are the Necaxa, Lajajalpan, Tecuantepec, and Apulco rivers. These rivers meet in a place called Espinal, Veracruz. From there, the Tecolutla River flows about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east. It passes through towns like Papantla and Gutiérrez Zamora.
The very start of the Tecolutla River is a small stream called Arroyo Zapata. This stream is located near Huamantla, Tlaxcala. It is high up in the mountains, about 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) high. The Arroyo Zapata flows into the Coyuca River, which then flows into the Apulco River. The total length of the Tecolutla River, from its farthest source, is 375 kilometers (233 miles).
The River's Journey
The Tecolutla River flows across a flat area called the coastal plain. It eventually reaches the town of Tecolutla. Here, the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Along its way, other smaller rivers join the Tecolutla. For example, the Joloapan River joins it near Paso del Correo. The Chichicatzapan River also joins it through an area called the Ostiones estuary.
The area of land that drains into the Tecolutla River is called its watershed. This watershed covers a large area of 7,903 square kilometers (3,051 square miles). A lot of water flows into the river each year from this area.
What's Special About This River?
The Tecolutla River is known for being one of the best-preserved rivers in Veracruz. This means it is still very natural and clean. The flat lands around the river are great for farming.
- Vanilla's Home: The Totonac people, who have lived in this area for a long time, might have been the first to grow Vanilla. Vanilla has been a very important part of their culture for hundreds of years.
- Early Power Plants: Some of the first important power plants in Mexico were built on the Necaxa River. This river is part of the Tecolutla River system. These plants used the river's water to make electricity.
See also
In Spanish: Río Tecolutla para niños
