According to data from the National Water Commission (Conagua), Mexico has a hydrographic network of 633 thousand kilometers in length, where between 42 and 51 rivers stand out, through which almost 90% of the surface runoff flows and whose basins cover 65%. of the national area. Some of the main rivers in Mexico are: Bravo, Lerma, Grijalva-Usumacinta, Papaloapan, Coatzacoalcos, Balsas, Pánuco, Santiago and Tecolutla.
Characteristics of the rivers of Mexico
In the first place, we can say that the Mexican rivers are short, unnavigable and with a modest flow; the above due to the presence of important mountain ranges.
Also, it should be mentioned that most of the rivers flow along three slopes:
- Western or Pacific Ocean, which includes more than 100 rivers throughout the country, among which we find the Balsas, Lerma-Santiago and Verde.
- Eastern or Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea), in this there are 46 rivers, the most important are the Usumacinta, Papaloapan, Grijalva, Coatzacoalcos and Pánuco.
- Interior, its rivers flow into interior lagoons. The most relevant would be the Nazas River.
Main rivers of Mexico
Bravo
This river arises in the state of Colorado, in the United States to reach the state of Chihuahua and empties into the Gulf of Mexico, in the Atlantic Ocean. It is more than 3,000 kilometers long and has an approximate basin of 467,000 km². It is the longest river in Mexico.
rafts
Also known as Atoyac or Mezcala, this river is located in the center-south of the national territory. It is born in the Sierra Nevada de Puebla, flowing through Guerrero and Michoacán until it empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is 771 kilometers long and its basin covers an area of 112,320 km².
lerma
It is considered one of the longest rivers in Mexico. It is born in the springs of Almoloya del Río, in the State of Mexico, continues through Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán and flows into Lake Chapala, in Jalisco. It is 708 km long and has a basin of 47,116 km².
Nazas
It arises in the Sierra Madre Occidental, between the states of Durango and Coahuila, it is a river of the interior with 600 kilometers in length and a basin of 57,101 km² of surface.
Grijalva-Usumacinta
This river is born in Guatemala, crosses the southeast of our country from Chiapas and ends at Frontera, Tabasco, in the Gulf of Mexico. It has a length of 600 kilometers and a surface area of 51,569 km². It also has other names such as the Seleguá River, the Grande de Chiapas River, the Mezcalapa River, Samaria and Carrizal. It is one of the longest rivers in the country and one of the mightiest.
Santiago
Also known as the Grande de Santiago River, it rises in Ocotlán, to the east of Lake Chapala, in Jalisco, and continues to Nayarit, flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Likewise, it groups several dams such as El Cajón, Aguamilpa and Santa Rosa. Length: 562 kilometers and 76,277 km² of basin.
Tecolutla
With a length of 375 kilometers and a basin of 7,903 km², this river rises in Puebla, continues through Veracruz until it drains into the Gulf of Mexico. It is also known as Zapata stream, Coyuca river or Apulco river.
papaloapan
It is born in the state of Oaxaca and flows into the Gulf of Mexico, passing through Veracruz before. It has an extension, without counting its sources, of 354 kilometers and its basin reaches a surface of 51,025 km². As a curious fact, its name comes from Nahuatl, which means In the river of butterflies. It is also one of the mightiest rivers. More information here.
coatzacoalcos
One of the largest bodies of water in the country that rises in the Sierra de Niltepec in Oaxaca and continues through the south of the state of Veracruz, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. It is 282 kilometers long and has a surface area of 2,330 km² in its basin.
panuco
It is one of the largest rivers in the country and has its origin in the Mexican Altiplano, between the Moctezuma and Tampaón rivers. Similarly, it is part of the hydrological system known as Tula-Moctezuma-Pánuco, which crosses Veracruz until it empties near Tampico. Without sources, the river has a length of 120 kilometers and its basin covers 84,956 km².