Rio Grande - a river, the description of which will be described in detail below, is considered one of the longest in America. She takes 3rd place in this indicator. This watercourse is at the same time the border between the United States of America and Mexico, where it has a length of about 2 thousand km. The starting point can be considered the city of El Paso, the end - the mouth, which is located at the confluence of the river in the Gulf of Mexico.
Characteristic
The length of the river exceeds 3 thousand km, and the total catchment area is about 300 thousand square meters. km The longest American river originates from the mountain springs of San Juan, located in the city of El Paso , Colorado. The largest stretch of water flows through the San Luis Valley. Further south towards New Mexico, the Rio Grande continues on its way. The river flows into the Gulf of Mexico, which is considered its final point. But, unfortunately, in our time (since 2003), due to great aridity and strong evaporation, it literally stops just 150 meters away and does not reach its mouth. The main river tributaries are smaller rivers called Rio Conchos, Pecos and Devils.
Watercourse features
Translated from Spanish, the name translates as "Great River", but, unfortunately, it has long been no longer navigable. Ships sail only in the youngest part of the Rio Grande, located near El Paso. All this happened due to the large amount of water withdrawal for irrigation of local fields. Since the 50s of the XX century, the great river is becoming smaller and smaller. The only sources of recharge to this day remain the mountain key springs, groundwater, snow and rain. The Rio Grande is a river in North America, on the territory of which severe hurricanes form every few years. It is they who, in the channel of this water stream, floods from the Gulf of Mexico are brought. And then, on average, the “life” of the Rio Grande can last for 5 years. But this does not change the fact that every year there are more and more drying sites, due to which mini-lakes are formed.
A bit of history
Rio Grande is a river with an insanely interesting history. The very moment of its appearance is at least amazing. It is said that more than 750 thousand years ago, the Cabeza de Vaca lake, where the Rio Grande flowed into, was washed away by hills, and a rapid stream of water went to the Gulf of Mexico, connecting with the Pecos and Rio Conchos streams along the course of the stream, increasing the length of the future Great River is 3 times. Rumor has it that the first settlements in the district were Indian tribes who called themselves “pueblo,” and they gave the river such a big name.
Between 1836 and 1848, the shores of the Rio Grande witnessed the long Texas Freedom War. After the residents of the state managed to achieve independence and become part of the United States, the Americans began to fight with the Mexicans for power over the water source.
The military dispute was resolved in 1848. At this time, an agreement was concluded in which the fate of the watercourse was allowed. And from that moment on, the Rio Grande is a river that has become the border between states. Its shores were lined with concrete slabs. And in 1997, it became part of the American natural heritage. During the 19th-21st centuries, the small fords of the Rio Grande River served as places for the Mexican population and immigrants to move to more successful states of America for the purpose of earning.
Flora and fauna
Rio Grande - a river whose flora and fauna are striking in their diversity. Here you can find common and dwarf trout, river shrimp, numerous birds (1.5 thousand species) and many animals. Due to the drought, all these representatives were on the verge of extinction. On the banks of the river you can find rare trees and shrubs, as well as medicinal plants, numbering a little more than 20 thousand species. In addition to the endangered species of trout, about a thousand other specimens of fish and turtles live in the waters of the Rio Grande. The most common animals in the river delta are alpaca and vicuna, as well as large birds of the ostrich family - nandu.
Using
Rio Grande is a river whose water resources are used by both countries. However, they are polluted by them. Since all industrial waste from enterprises, oil depots and other industrial institutions merge directly into the riverbed, this leads to terrible consequences and the extinction of rare specimens of birds, mammals and fish.