Bogotá River

Bogotá River
Map of Bogotá River and its drainage basin
Country	Colombian department of Cundinamarca
Basin
Main source	Páramo de Guacheneque, Villapinzón 3,300 m (10,800 ft) 5°15′N 73°40′W / 5.250°N 73.667°W
River mouth	Magdalena River at Girardot 4°17′19″N 74°47′47″W / 4.28861°N 74.79639°WCoordinates: 4°17′19″N 74°47′47″W / 4.28861°N 74.79639°W
Basin size	6,000 km^2 (2,300 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	375 km (233 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 31–41 m^3/s (1,100–1,400 cu ft/s)

The Bogotá River close to Zipaquirá

The Bogotá River is a major river of the Cundinamarca department of Colombia, crossing the region from the northeast to the southwest and passing along the western limits of Bogotá. The large population and major industrial base in its watershed have resulted in extremely severe pollution problems for the river.

Etymology

The Bogotá River is named after Bogotá, which is derived from Chibcha and means "(Enclosure) outside of the farm fields".^[1]

Course

The headwaters of the Bogotá River are in the municipality of Villapinzón, in the northeastern part of Cundinamarca near the limits with Boyacá. It has a course of about 150 kilometres (93 mi) as it crosses the Bogotá savanna, passing through Zipaquirá and eleven small municipalities, before reaching the city of Bogotá. As it runs along the western border of the city, the river forms the outlet for the heavily polluted Salitre, Funza and Tunjuelito Rivers. After passing through the municipality of Soacha, the Bogotá River plunges off the savanna at the Tequendama Falls. It then follows a steep course, falling about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in 50 kilometres (31 mi), to join the Magdalena River at Girardot.

Temperature

The temperature average ranges from 24 to 27 °C (75 to 81 °F).

See also

Bogotá savanna, Tequendama - archaeological site, earliest inhabitation along the Bogotá River

Tequendama Falls

References

1. (Spanish) Etymology Bacatá - Banco de la República

External links

• Uribe Botero, Eduardo, 2005, The water treatment plants of the Bogotá River - case study - Universidad de los Andes - CEDE
• Centro Italiano per la Riqualificazione Fluviale, 2003, El problema del Rio Bogotá - 3rd World Water Forum