- Length of the river: 1550 km
- Area of the pool: 260,000 sq. M. km
- Origin: Magdalena Lagoon
- Mouths: Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
The Magdalena River originates in the Andes and flows through the west of Colombia , heading north towards the Caribbean Sea. It is the longest river in the country, and its basin covers 24% of the country's territory, capturing the most populated parts of the country.
General information
The source of the river is in the Andes, near the volcano Sotara. In the upper reaches of the river there is a huge number of beautiful waterfalls . After the city of El-Banco, Magdalena from a narrow and fast river turns into a wide and slow river, reaching the Prikarib lowland, which is very boggy. Here the river is divided into two branches - Loba and Mompos. Near the city of Barranquilla, the Magdalena forms a delta and there it already flows into the Caribbean Sea, which, in turn, communicates with the Atlantic Ocean.
The Magdalena River is very easily located on the map, because it flows through all of western Colombia. Most of the river (for 880 km) is navigable.
Since Magdalena is filled with rainwater only, in the wet season, in the lower reaches of the river, water rises and floods considerable areas. This should be borne in mind when going to see the Magdalena River in April-May and September-November.
Interesting fact
The river acquired its name from the very beginning of the 16th century (in 1501) when the conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas landed in its channel decided to name it in honor of St. Mary Magdalene.
Ecology of the Magdalena River
In the past few decades, Colombia is actively developing land for agricultural needs. In connection with this, a huge number of trees are cut down, which, naturally, leads to a deterioration of the environment, in particular - to soil erosion. This negatively affects the ecology of the Magdalena River and its environs.
At the moment the river is very polluted. The number of fish decreases, a lot of debris and branches accumulate on the banks, among which iguanas have adapted to live.
What to see?
Nevertheless, the Magdalena River in South America remains attractive for tourists. It flows through a huge number of picturesque places, which have a unique Colombian flavor. To explore the river, you can ride a pleasure boat along the navigable part of the river. It is also very interesting to climb a bit into the mountains to appreciate the beauty of the waterfalls starting near the source of the river.
How to get there?
It is most convenient to get to the Magdalena River through Bogotá , from which you can go to the cities near the river - Barrancabermeja, Onda, La Dorado.