Coatzacoalcos River

The Coatzacoalcos is a large river that feeds mainly the south part of the state of Veracruz; it originates in the Sierra de Niltepec and crosses the state of Oaxaca in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, flowing for 325 kilometres (202 miles) toward the Gulf of Mexico. Tributaries include El Corte, Sarabia, Jaltepec, Chalchijalpa, El Chiquito, Uxpanapa, and Calzadas. The merging of all these rivers creates one of the largest current flows in the entire region. Two-thirds of the streams are navigable.

Coatzacoalcos
Approaching the mouth of the river from the Gulf of Mexico. The city of Coatzacoalcos is to starboard, and Allende to port. (2011)
Location of mouth
Etymology"where serpent hides" (Nahuatl)
Location
CountryMexico
StateOaxaca, Veracruz
RegionIsthmus of Tehuantepec
CitiesMatías Romero, Minatitlán, Nanchital, Coatzacoalcos
Physical characteristics
Source 
  coordinates16°56′44″N 94°37′1″W
Mouth 
  coordinates
18°9′56″N 94°24′50″W
  elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length325 km (202 mi)
Basin size17,563 km2 (6,781 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average1,163 m3/s (41,100 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftSarabia, Jaltepec
  rightEl Corte, Uxpanapa

Juan de Grijalva's 1518 expedition encountered the river.:34 Hernán Cortés sent Diego de Ordaz to explore the river as a possible port.:266–268

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