La Leche River
River in the Lambayeque Region of Peru
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
La Leche River (Spanish: Río La Leche, Muchic: Lamcarlech or Lalech), meaning the milky one, is a river of Lambayeque Region in northwestern Peru,[1] although some of its water come from the northern Cajamarca Region.[2]
| La Leche River Mochica: Lamcarlech - Lalech | |
|---|---|
La Leche river in Pómac Sanctuary | |
  Location of La Leche's source in Peru | |
| Native name | Spanish: Río La Leche |
| Location | |
| Country | Peru |
| Region | Lambayeque |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mount Choicopico |
| • coordinates | 06°13′19″S 079°4′59″W |
| • elevation | 4,230 metres (13,878 ft) |
| Mouth | Motupe River |
• location | West of Pacora |
• coordinates | 06°26′08″S 079°56′02″W |
• elevation | 41.09 metres (134.810 ft) |
| Length | 64 km (40 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Moyán River, Sangana River |
Geography
La Leche arises off the northern slopes of Mount Choicopico, 06°13′19″S 079°4′59″W, at an altitude of 4,230 metres (13,878 ft) in Ferreñafe Province, of Lambayeque Region.[2] Its two main tributaries are the Moyán and the Sangana rivers, both right-hand tributaries.[2] Formerly the river ran parallel to the Motupe River as it entered the saline Sechura Desert; however, due to stream capture it now has the Motupe River flowing into its bed at 06°26′08″S 079°56′02″W, with the resultant river being called the Motupe.[3] During the rainy season, mid November to mid April, but especially during El Niño events,[4] La Leche can experience severe flooding, and in some years by the end of the dry season it can almost disappear.[2] Traditionally stone levees were used to try to control the flooding,[5] but in the 21st century upland dams are being used.[2]
The valley of La Leche is variously forested, grassland and agricultural.[2] The largest town along La Leche is Incahuasi.[2] Both the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge and the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary are along La Leche.