Río Grande de Arecibo
River of Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Río Grande de Arecibo (also gazetted as Arecibo River in English) is a river of Puerto Rico. The Arecibo River is the fourth longest and second largest in discharge in Puerto Rico, after the Loíza River.[1] Its headwaters lie in the mountains to the south of Adjuntas, from there it flows northward, passing along a gorge that is 200 m deep and 800–1,200 m wide, until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Arecibo Pueblo.[2] The tributaries lie along the north side of the Cerro de Punta and the Utuado Pluton.[3]
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| Arecibo River | |
|---|---|
Río Grande de Arecibo | |
 | |
| Etymology | After the town of Arecibo, itself named after the Taíno cacique Arasibo and/or Taíno "arasiba" possibly meaning 'people's stone'. |
| Native name | Río Grande de Arecibo (Spanish) |
| Location | |
| Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
| Municipality | Arecibo, Utuado |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Garzas Lake in Adjuntas |
| • coordinates | 18°28′22″N 66°42′38″W |
| Mouth | |
• location | Arecibo Bay in the Atlantic Ocean near Arecibo Pueblo |
| Length | 52.89 km (32.86 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Caguana River, Jobos Creek, Tanamá River |
| • right | Júa Creek, Caonillas River, Limón River, Vacas River |
The tributaries to Río Grande de Arecibo basin include the Vacas, Pellejas, Garzas, Saltillo, Cidra, Grande de Jayuya, Caguana, Caonillas, Yunés, Limón, Jauca, Tanamá and Santiago rivers.[4]
Flood control project
In mid 2018, the United States Army Corps of Engineers announced it would be undertaking a major flood control project of the river, with a budget of $82.9 million.[5]
In mid 2021, funding was appropriated for work on the Río Grande de Arecibo, including work to improve the natural habitat of local species, including the Puerto Rican crested toad and a Río Grande de Arecibo canalization project was set to begin in 2023.[6][7]
Gallery
View of Arecibo Pueblo from the mouth of the river
View of the river from Cueva Ventana
Arecibo River in the Northern Karst Belt
Dos Bocas Lake, a reservoir of the river between Arecibo and Utuado
El Ataúd falls in Adjuntas
Garzas Lake, a reservoir of the river in Adjuntas
See also
- Cambalache Bridge: NRHP listing in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- List of rivers of Puerto Rico
