Bogotá River

Bogotá River
Map of Bogotá River and its drainage basin
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′14″N 74°47′43″W / 4.28722°N 74.79528°WCoordinates: 4°17′14″N 74°47′43″W / 4.28722°N 74.79528°W
Watershed area	6,000 km^2 (2,300 sq mi)
Countries	Colombian department of Cundinamarca
Physiognomy
Length	375 km (233 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 31–41 m^3/s (1,100–1,400 cu ft/s)

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.

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 Savannah, passing through 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 Savannah 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).

External links

• Eduardo Uribe Botero (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.