| Río Frío | |
|---|---|
  Location of the Río Frío in Colombia | |
| Etymology | "Cold river" |
| Native name | Río Frío (Spanish) |
| Location | |
| Country | Colombia |
| Department | Cundinamarca |
| Provinces | |
| Municipalities | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Páramo de Guerrero |
| • location | Zipaquirá |
| • coordinates | 5°07′06.9″N74°00′47.9″W / 5.118583°N 74.013306°W /5.118583; -74.013306 |
| • elevation | 3,700 m (12,100 ft) |
| Mouth | Bogotá River |
• location | Chía |
• coordinates | 4°50′06.5″N74°04′55.5″W / 4.835139°N 74.082083°W /4.835139; -74.082083 |
• elevation | 2,650 m (8,690 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Bogotá River Magdalena Basin Caribbean Sea |
TheRío Frío ("Cold river") is a river on theBogotá savanna and a right tributary of theBogotá River. The river, in a basin of 6,008.69 hectares (23.1997 sq mi), originates on thePáramo de Guerrero inZipaquirá at an altitude of 3,700 metres (12,100 ft). It flows through the municipalitiesTabio andCajicá and into the Bogotá River in the south ofChía, at 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) above sea level.
The Río Frío originates on thePáramo de Guerrero at an altitude of 3,700 metres (12,100 ft), in the north of the municipalityZipaquirá. The river flows north and westward before flowing south throughTabio. From there, the river flows eastward throughCajicá to turn south throughChía where in the southern part of the municipality, close to the border withSuba,Bogotá the Río Frío flows into theBogotá River at an elevation of 2,550 metres (8,370 ft).[1]
In the valley of the Río Frío, shales belonging to theGuaduas Formation are outcropping.[2][3] Also theCacho,Bogotá andChorrera Formations are present in the Río Frío valley.[4][5][6] During theLast Glacial Maximum in the LatePleistocene, the Río Frío deposited conglomerates and sands.[7]
The basin of the Río Frío covers Zipaquirá,Pacho,Subachoque, Tabio,Cogua,Cota, Cajicá and Chía.[1] The cultivation of flowers produces contamination of the Río Frío. The river overflows frequently.[8] Carbon mining is present in the Río Frío basin.[9]
