Chixoy River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chixoy River |
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|---|---|
| Native name | Río Chixoy (Spanish) |
| Other name(s) | Río Negro, Río Chixoy, Salinas River |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Quiché Department, Guatemala 2,000 m (6,600 ft) 14°59′07″N 91°13′09″W / 14.985389°N 91.219165°W |
| River mouth | Confluence of Usumacinta River & Pasión River 160 m (520 ft) 16°28′52″N 90°32′35″W / 16.481060°N 90.543121°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 12,150 km2 (4,690 sq mi) |
The Chixoy River or Río Chixoy is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam (located at 15°16′54″N 90°29′27″W / 15.281536°N 90.490952°W), where the Río Salamá and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro. After the Chixoy dam, the river is called Río Chixoy and flows northwards, marking the departmental limits between Alta Verapaz and El Quiché, until it reaches the border with Mexico. From there on it continues along the border for another 113 kilometres (70 mi) as the Salinas river until it finally converges with the Río la Pasión (at 16°28′52″N 90°32′39″W / 16.481193°N 90.544167°W) to form the Usumacinta river which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Chixoy river's water discharge of 551 cubic metres per second (19,500 cu ft/s) is Guatemala's highest. This was one of the main reasons for selecting this river for the construction of the Chixoy Hydroelectric dam. Guatemala's National Institute for Electricity (INDE) is planning the construction of another hydroelectric dam on the Chixoy river. The proposed location of the Xalalá hydroelectric dam is situated at 15°41′34″N 90°47′11″W / 15.692833°N 90.786361°W. in the municipality of Ixcán, El Quiché.
See also
In Spanish: Río Chixoy para niños
- Chixoy hydroelectric dam
- Río Negro Massacre
