Samalá River
River in Guatemala / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be cofused with the Salamá River in Guatemala, a tributary of the Chixoy River.
The Samalá is a river in southwestern Guatemala. Its sources are in the Sierra Madre, Valle De Écija range, in the departments of Quetzaltenango and Totonicapán. From there it flows down, past the towns San Carlos Sija in the Valle De Écija, Quetzaltenango, San Cristóbal Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, El Palmar and Zunil, through the coastal plains of Retalhuleu into the Pacific Ocean.[1]
Quick Facts Location, Country ...
Samalá River | |
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Location | |
Country | Guatemala |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Sierra Madre in the Valle De Écija, San Carlos Sija |
• coordinates | 15.034759°N 91.572847°W / 15.034759; -91.572847 (Source of the Samalá River) |
• elevation | 3,200 m (10,500 ft) |
Mouth | |
• location | Pacific Ocean |
• coordinates | 14.191934°N 91.785450°W / 14.191934; -91.785450 (Mouth of the Samalá River) |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 145 km (90 mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 8.7 m3/s (310 cu ft/s) (Candelaria) |
Close
The Samalá river basin covers a territory of 1,510 km² (580 sq ml) and has a population of around 0.4 million people.[2] Its proximity to the active Santa Maria and Santiaguito volcano complex, with its recurring lava and lahars flows, leads to a heightened risk of serious flooding.[3]