Whitewater Draw facts for kids
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Whitewater Draw, originally called Rio de Agua Prieta (which means "river of dark water" in Spanish), is a stream in Cochise County, Arizona. It is a tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of the Rio de Agua Prieta.
The Journey of Whitewater Draw
Whitewater Draw starts high up in the Chiricahua Mountains at an elevation of 8,520 feet (about 2,597 meters). This is in Rucker Canyon within the Coronado National Forest.
Flowing South
From its source, the stream generally flows west. It goes around the northern part of the Swisshelm Mountains. Then, it turns southwest and south, moving through the Sulphur Springs Valley.
Into Mexico and Beyond
Whitewater Draw eventually flows into Mexico near the cities of Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. In Mexico, it becomes known as the Rio de Agua Prieta. This river then flows south and southeast. It joins the Rio de San Bernardino at a place called La Junta de los Rios.
The San Bernardino River then connects with the Bavispe River in Sonora. The Bavispe River continues south and southwest until it reaches the Yaqui River. Finally, the Yaqui River flows into the Gulf of California near Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. So, the water from Whitewater Draw travels a long way to reach the ocean!
A Bit of History
Long ago, in 1846, a group of soldiers called the Mormon Battalion camped near a spring on this stream. Their leader, Philip St. George Cooke, called it "Blackwater Creek" back then.
