Which Is The Longest River In Guatemala? General Knowledge Facts

Since the pre-Columbian period, the Motagua River became the commerce route.

Motagua fault is a partition between North America and Caribbean Plate, which became more prone to earthquakes. Industrial emission tends to be the cause behind its filthy water.

Motagua River is divided into the left and right tributaries with an extension of 4890 sq mi (12,670 sq km). With the diversity of waterways, Guatemala has alterations in temperatures at certain altitudes.

On an estimation, between 3000-8005 ft (915-2440 m), it remains 68 F (20 C) and 82 F (28 C) in lower regions.

The precipitation varies between 60-100 in (1525-2540 mm) in the north and 52 in (1320 mm) in the south. Having a humongous river system, the place has tropical forests and it was discovered later that annually it is sinking at a 2.02% pace, affecting those rich biodiversities and endemic species.

List Of The Longest Rivers In Guatemala

The following list represents rivers along tributaries in the catchment area of Guatemala.

San Pedro River started from the Sierra Manzanal mountains and descends into the Gali River. Usumacinta River started from the junction of the Pasion River and plunges into the Gulf of Mexico, Rio San Juan started from lake Nicaragua and dives into the Caribbean Sea.

Salinas River started from Los Machos Hills and dives into Monterey Bay. The Río Grande started from Canby Mountain and descends into the Gulf of Mexico.

Rio Paz started in Quezalapa Mountains and dives into the Pacific Ocean. Rio Ixcan originated from Guatemala and plunges into the Lacantun River. Rio Dulce started from Lake Izabal and dives into the Caribbean Sea.

Rio Salama started from the Sierra Madre and dives into the Pacific Ocean. Grijalva River started from Rio Grande de Chiapas and dives into the Gulf of Mexico.

Rio Ocosito also started from Guatemala and plunges into the Pacific Ocean. Rio Polochic started from Guatemala and dives into Lake Izabal. Jalapa River started in southern Guatemala and dives into the Motagua River.

Sarstoon River started from Guatemala and plunges into the Caribbean Sea. Rio Cahabon started from Tactic, Guatemala, and dives into the Polochic River. Additionally, the Suchiate River started from San Marcos and dives into the Pacific Ocean.

The Largest River In Guatemala By Volume

Rio Lempa with a basin area of 7045 sq mi (18,246 sq km), became the largest river in Guatemala with a 262 mi (422 km) range. It started from the Sierra Madre, Sierra del Merendon.

The river is denominated as Rio Olopa in Guatemala.

It proceeds at a distance of 18.9 mi (30.4 km) south to get into Honduras, with coordination of 14° 32′ 51.72″ N, 89° 15′ 50.41″ W. The river reaches its terminal point at Citala, Chalatenango, (14° 22′ 18.68″ N, 89° 12′ 44.78″ W) via the patch of 19.5 mi (31.4 km) of El Salvador at the border, here it made another stretch of 223.69 mi (360 km) and goes towards the Pacific Ocean.

It shares a little portion of extremities between El Salvador and Honduras.

The totality of the catchment area consists of 7045 sq mi (18,246 sq km), which is divided into El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala with an estimated area of 3959 sq mi (10,255 sq km), 2199 sq mi (5696 sq km), and 886 sq mi (2295 sq km), respectively.

Guayojo Dam, 5 de Noviembre Dam, Cerron Grande Dam, and 15 de Septiembre Dam are some hydroelectric dams that are functional upon this river.

What is the longest river in Guatemala?

Motagua River is Guatemala's longest river in the East region.

The river emerges from the Central Highlands, Chichicastenango with 250 mi (400 km) of range. In the whole region of Guatemala, there are 18 major rivers scattered between mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Lake Izabal is the largest lake in this region with an association with the Polochic River. This place is on a volcanic axis with Atlantic lowlands and volcanic sand beaches, and this place became prolific for agriculture.

Usumacinta River works as a fence between Guatemala and Mexico. Illegal logging, looting, and poaching made wildlife in this vicinity vulnerable. The whole river basin outskirts have been bucked up with farming. This place became a hub for fruit and coffee trading. The United Fruit Company got their plantation venture here in 1904.

How long is the Motagua?

Motagua became Guatemala's longest river with a basin area of 4891.91 sq mi (12,670 sq km) while the length is 302.6 mi (487 km).

Guatemala's river system had been serving the dwellers since the Mayan era. It is originated from Central Highlands and the interception rests between the Sierra Madre, the southern chain, and the northern chain.

All their drainage emission goes to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf of Honduras. The pace is a little less to the Pacific in comparison to the Gulf of Honduras and the Gulf of Mexico.

Usumacinta can be considered the longest, however, 242.33 mi (390 km) of 621.37 mi (1000 km) area of this river basin is in Guatemala which makes the Motagua largest. Pasion remains the third largest river in this region with a range of 217.48 mi (350 km), originating from the Alta Verapaz hills.

Cutting through chains, the Motagua River chooses its path to get aligned with the Guatemala-Honduras border.

Major Long Rivers In Guatemala

Río Motagua, Río Usumacinta, Río Sarstún, and Rio Chixoy are the major longest rivers in the entire Guatemala.

Motagua emerged from Quiche and Baja Verapaz department at Puerto Barrios with a length of 302.33 mi (486.55 km), real estate of 4890 sq mi (12,670 sq km), and estimated drainage of 7370 cu ft/s (208.7 cu m/s). Usumacinta started from the Peten department and Pasion River junction with a length of 620 mi (1000 km).

Sarstun started from the Alta Verapaz department and plunges into the Caribbean sea with a length of 68.97 mi (111 km). Chixoy made an appearance from the Quiche department at the Usumacinta and Pasion River junction with the real estate of 4690 sq mi (12,150 sq km) and drainage of 19,500 cu ft/s (551 cu m/s).