The 5 Main Rivers of Bogotá and their Characteristics

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Basil Manning
The 5 Main Rivers of Bogotá and their Characteristics

The main rivers of Bogotá are the Tunjuelo, the Salitre and the Fucha. These bodies of water flow into the Bogotá River. Its tributaries add 198 bodies of water between streams, wetlands, rivers and canals. All of these cross the Colombian capital and drain rainwater from more than 90% of the urbanized area..

Bogotá is the capital of the Republic of Colombia and the department of Cundinamarca. Its official name is Bogotá, Capital District. Bogotá, D.C is abbreviated.

Main characteristics of the rivers of Bogotá

In Bogotá the relief is of low slopes, which means a low speed in the water of the rivers. These water sources are contaminated and run through the streets of the city's neighborhoods. Most of them are encapsulated in pipes that sometimes give off a bad smell.

As main causes of pollution, it has been established that the determining factors are the disposal of wastewater and the load of biological and industrial waste, added to the low velocity of the water masses.. 

Between the city and the nearby municipalities live around eight million people. Over the last few years, sanitation plans have been drawn up that seek the recovery of public space in the center of Bogotá.

Some communities have also established assemblies around the rivers. In these, pedagogical activities are carried out.

The intention is to inform people about the current and real situation of the rivers, and the consequences that this situation entails. It even explains how they can help improve the city's environmental conditions..

Main rivers of Bogotá

The most extensive basin is the Tunjuelo basin with 80 tributaries. The Salitre basin follows with 48, Fucha with 31 and Torca with 19. Other sub-basins add 20 more bodies of water.

1- Tunjuelo River

It is the longest river and whose extensive hydrographic basin runs through Bogotá. It is used to supply water through the Regadera and Chisacá reservoirs.

It is born in the Sumapez páramo and crosses the Fucha, Santa Librada, Yomasa, La Olla del Ramo, Chiguaza, Yerbabuena, El Chuscal, Trumpetas, Limas and Terreros streams..

2- River Salitre

It is born in the eastern hills at more than 3000 meters above sea level. It crosses the ravines of Las Delicias, Los Molinos and El Chicó, among others. It is also known as the Arzobispo or Juan Amarillo river, it flows into the Bogotá river and has a basin of about 13,000 hectares.

3- Rio Fucha

It is also born in the eastern hills and flows into the Bogotá River. It is channeled in part of its journey.

This river drains the entire sector of downtown Bogotá, part of the southeast and the industrial zone to the west.

By draining the oldest sector of the city, the river is mixed with rainwater and sewage. Due to this, the Fucha river is very polluted.

4- Bogotá River

This river runs from north to south the western sector of Bogotá. It drains the waters of several tributaries, including the Tunjuelo, Salitre and Fucha rivers. Then it finally empties into the Magdalena River.

It is the most polluted river in Bogotá and the one with the most sanitation plans.

5- San Agustín River

Also known as the Manzanares River, it is born in the Eastern Hills of Bogotá and flows into the Fucha River near the huge Avenida de Bocayá (Bogotá).

It is a canalized bridge due to the great pollution of its waters. In fact, its original mouth was in the San Francisco River.

References

  1. Brand, P. C., & Prada Ríos, J. F. (2003). The invention of urban futures: strategies for economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability in the four main cities of Colombia. National university of Colombia. Medellin Headquarters.
  2. The urban rivers of Bogota. (s.f.). Obtained from Aló: alo.co
  3. Rola, S. D. (December 1, 2015). Between rivers and streams Bogotá has 198 bodies of water. Do you know them? Obtained from Cívico: civico.com
  4.  Bogota (s.f.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
  5. Geography of Bogotá. (s.f.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org

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