Magdalena River

The Magdalena River is the most important river in the western part of Colombia. It has a length of 1,538 kilometres (956 mi). Its course is from south to north. About 80 percent of the population of Colombia live on the banks of the river or one of its tributaries. Barranquilla, Colombia's biggest city, lies on the banks of the river.

Magdalena
The delta of the Magdalena River
Map of the Magdalena River watershed
Etymology	Biblical figure Mary Magdalene
Location
Country	Colombia
Cities	Neiva Girardot Honda La Dorada Puerto Boyacá Puerto Berrío Barrancabermeja Santa Cruz de Mompox Magangué Barranquilla
Physical characteristics
Source	La Magdalena lagoon
- location	Colombian Massif, Colombia
- coordinates	1°56′3″N 76°36′29″W
- elevation	3,685 m (12,090 ft)
Mouth	Caribbean Sea
- location	Barranquilla, Colombia
- coordinates	11°7′0″N 74°51′0″W
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	1,528 km (949 mi)[1]
Basin size	257,438 km2 (99,397 sq mi)
Discharge
- location	Calamar, Bolívar[2]
- average	7,200 m3/s (250,000 cu ft/s)[2]
- minimum	2,000 m3/s (71,000 cu ft/s)
- maximum	12,000 m3/s (420,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
- left	Páez River, Saldaña River, La Miel River, Nare River, Cauca River, San Jorge River
- right	Cabrera River, Bogotá River, Negro River, Carare River, Sogamoso River, Cesar River
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Sistema Delta Estuarino del Río Magdalena, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
Designated	18 June 1998
Reference no.	951[3]

Watercraft can travel on the river up to the city of Honda, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) upstream. At Honda, there are rapids. After these rapids, watercraft can travel for another 240 kilometres (150 mi).

References

1. "Sistema de informacion Ambiental de Colombia – SIAC" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
2. "Chapter 14" (PDF). The Pacific and Caribbean Rivers of Colombia: Water Discharge, Sediment Transport and Dissolved Loads. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
3. "Sistema Delta Estuarino del Río Magdalena, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.