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Tijuana River Valley, San Diego facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Tijuana River Valley is a quiet, rural area in the southern part of San Diego, California. It's like a peaceful countryside spot right next to the city! To its north and west, you'll find Imperial Beach. Egger Highlands and Nestor are also to the north. To the east is San Ysidro. And to the south, it shares a border with Mexico. You can get around the valley using main roads like Hollister Street, Monument Road, and Dairy Mart Road.

A Look Back in Time

Early Days

Long ago, the Kumeyaay people lived in this valley. They built a village called Melijo near a spot known as Smuggler's Gulch. They were the first to call this beautiful area home.

Ranch Life

Later, this land became part of a big ranch called Rancho Melijo. This happened because of a special land grant from Mexico to a person named Santiago E. Argüello.

Becoming Part of San Diego

In 1957, the Tijuana River Valley joined the city of San Diego. Before that, it was part of San Diego County.

Fun Places to Explore

This community has lots of dirt roads and paths, about 71.5 miles of them! It's a great place for outdoor adventures. You'll also find many horse stables here.

The valley is home to the amazing Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. It's also very close to two other cool parks:

Both of these parks are located nearby in Imperial Beach. They are perfect for exploring nature and seeing wildlife.

River Challenges

Flooding Concerns

The Tijuana River Valley community sometimes faces flooding from the Tijuana River. This river can carry a lot of trash, sewage, and other pollutants. When it rains a lot, the river can overflow. This causes floods that can harm the valley and its natural areas.

Pollution Problems

The pollution in the river is a big problem. It can spread diseases when the floodwaters come into the community. For example, beaches near the valley had to close almost 1,600 days between 2007 and 2017. This was because of the pollution coming from the river. Beaches further north didn't have nearly as many closures.

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Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.