| Grijalva River | |
|---|---|
 The cliffs atSumidero Canyon overlook the Grijalva River. | |
  Location of Grijalva in Mexico | |
| Native name | Río Grijalva or Río Seleguá (Spanish) |
| Location | |
| Country |  Guatemala Mexico |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Gulf of Mexico |
• coordinates | 18°36′10″N92°41′33″W / 18.60278°N 92.69250°W /18.60278; -92.69250 (Río Grijalva) |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 480 km (300 mi) |
| Basin size | 134,400 km2 (51,900 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 3,079 m3/s (108,700 cu ft/s)[1] |
| • minimum | 87 m3/s (3,100 cu ft/s)[1] |
| • maximum | 6,286 m3/s (222,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
Grijalva River, formerly known asTabasco River (Spanish:Río Grijalva, known locally also asRío Grande de Chiapas,Río Grande andMezcalapa River), is a 480 km (300 mi) longriver in southeasternMexico.[2] It is named after SpanishconquistadorJuan de Grijalva who visited the area in 1518.[3] This river is born in theSierra de los Cuchumatanes in the department ofHuehuetenango inGuatemala, where it is known asRío Seleguá and is one of the most important rivers in that country.
The river rises from Río Grande de Chiapas in southeastern Chiapas and flows fromChiapas to the state ofTabasco through theSumidero Canyon into theBay of Campeche. Beginning as "Río Grande de Chiapas" or "Río Mezcalapa", later, Río Grande is stopped at theAngostura Dam (Mexico), one of the largest reservoirs in Mexico, and then its course is now named "Grijalva River". The river'sdrainage basin is 134,400 km2 (51,900 sq mi) in size.[1] Because of the close connection to theUsumacinta River (the two combine, flowing into theGulf of Mexico in a single delta), they are often regarded as a singleriver basin, the Grijalva-Usumacinta River.[4] Río Grande de Chiapas rises intoSierra de los Cuchumatanes,Huehuetenango;[5] inGuatemala receives the name "Selegua River" and also is a large river.
After flowing fromNezahualcoyotl Lake, an artificial lake created by thehydroelectricMalpaso Dam, Grijalva River turns northward and eastward, roughly paralleling the Chiapas–Tabasco state border. It flows throughVillahermosa (where, in 2001, a new cable-stayed bridge was constructed to cross the river) and empties into the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest ofFrontera. The river is navigable by shallow-draft boats for approximately 100 mi (160 km) upstream.
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