Catatumbo River

The Catatumbo River (Spanish: Río Catatumbo) is a river rising in northern Colombia, flowing into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. The Catatumbo River is approximately 340 kilometres (210 mi) long. It forms a part of the international boundary between the two countries. The river's name means "House of Thunder" in the language of the Bari people.

Catatumbo River
Location
Countries
Department (CO)Norte de Santander
State (VE)Zulia
Physical characteristics
Source 
  elevation2,000 m (6,600 ft)
MouthMaracaibo Basin
Length500 km (310 mi)
Basin size22,317 km2 (8,617 sq mi)

The river flows through the Catatumbo moist forests ecoregion. It then flows through the Maracaibo dry forests ecoregion before emptying into Lake Maracaibo. Prior to emptying into Maracaibo, the Catatumbo River also merges with the Zulia River.

Together with the nearby Escalante River, Catatumbo is a producing area for cocoa beans of the Criollo cultivar.

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