List of rivers of Ecuador
The rivers of Ecuador are an important part of the nation's geography and economy. Most of the over 2,000 rivers and streams[1] have headwaters in the Andes mountain range, flowing therefrom either westward toward the Pacific Ocean or eastward toward the Amazon River.[2] Narrow in the highlands, the majority of the rivers broaden as they reach the lower elevations of the Coast and Oriente.[2] During the rainy season, which lasts from January to April, the rivers that drain into the Pacific flood and often cause damage.
Geography[]
The two main water systems are the Esmeraldas River in the North and the Guayas in the South.[3]
The Esmeraldas begins as the Guayllabamba River in the Sierra, flowing west before emptying in the Pacific near the city of Esmeraldas.
The Guayas forms to the north of Guayaquil, where the Daule and the Babahoyo Rivers converge. The Babahayo arises from its tributaries in the Andes. The Guayas basin covers 40,000 square kilometers.[2]
The most important rivers in the Oriente are the Pastaza, Napo, and Putumayo. The Pastaza includes the , Ecuador's highest.
Economy[]
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the indigenous people of Ecuador used the rivers for fishing and transportation, although frequent waterfalls limited canoe travel in the Andes. The rivers long continued to be an important means of transportation, especially as the mountains made road and railroad building difficult.
Since the 20th century, rivers have become an important source of electric power in Ecuador. As of 2006, hydroelectric dams have a capacity 1,750 megawatts.[1] Some critics have noted that these projects have tended to be "substantially oversized" without "delivering the promised energy benefits."[1] In 2008, President Rafael Correa announced that the government planned to build eleven new hydroelectric power plants.[4] Almost all of the dam projects face opposition from local communities that fear negative environmental impacts on the land and a lack of transparency in decision-making.[1]
Recreational rafting on the rivers has become an important part of Ecuador's tourism-based economy.
Rivers[]
This listing is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.
Atlantic Ocean[]
- Putumayo River
- Napo River
- Marañón River (Peru)
- Tigre River
- Corrientes River
- Conambo River
- Pintoyacu River or Pindoyacu
- Pastaza River
- Huasaga River
- Bobonaza River
- Palora River
- Chambo River
- Ambato River
- Cebadas River
- Morona River
-
- Yaapi River
- Upano River
- Paute River
- Matadero River or Cuenca
- Machángara River
- Tomebamba River
- Tarqui River
- Yanuncay River
- Matadero River or Cuenca
- Paute River
- Zamora River
- Chinchipe River
- Tigre River
Pacific Ocean[]
- Mira River
- San Juan River
- Chota River
- Cayapas River
- Esmeraldas River
- Muisne River
- Cojimies River
- Mache River
- Coaque River
- Jama River
- Chone River
- Carrizal River
- Portoviejo River
- Jipijapa River
- Guayas River
- Taura River
- Daule River
- Pula River
- Magro River or Pedro Carbo
- Colimes River
- Boqueron River
- Puca River
- Congo River
- Babahoyo River
- Yaguachi River
- Milagro River
- Chimbo River
- Chanchán River
- Vinces River
- Catarama River
- San Pablo River
- Yaguachi River
- Cañar River
- Balao River
- Jubones River
- Arenillas River
- Zarumilla River
- Tumbes River
- Puyango River
- Chira River
- Catamayo River
- Calvas River
- Catamayo River
See also[]
Citations[]
References[]
- Gerlach, Allen (2002). Indians, Oil, and Politics: A Recent History of Ecuador. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8420-5108-2.
- Hanratty, Dennis M. (1989). Ecuador: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: GPO for the Library of Congress.
- Terry, Matt (2007-12-15). "Ecuador's Water Crisis: Damming the Water Capital of the World". International Rivers. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- "Ecuador to Build 11 New Hydroelectric Dams". Xinhua News Agency. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.
- GEOnet Names Server
- Water Resources Assessment of Ecuador
- Lists of rivers by country
- Rivers of Ecuador
- Lists of landforms of Ecuador