Guaviare River

Guaviare
The Guaviare River as seen from the air
Map
Location
CountryColombia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of Ariari and Guayabero Rivers
 • coordinates2°34′52.9212″N 72°46′17.0328″W / 2.581367000°N 72.771398000°W / 2.581367000; -72.771398000
 • elevation178 m (584 ft)
2nd sourceAriari
 • locationCordillera Oriental
 • coordinates3°54′31.698″N 74°6′30.2004″W / 3.90880500°N 74.108389000°W / 3.90880500; -74.108389000
 • elevation4,040 m (13,250 ft)
3rd sourceGuayabero
 • locationCordillera Oriental
 • coordinates3°31′36.5952″N 74°28′27.3684″W / 3.526832000°N 74.474269000°W / 3.526832000; -74.474269000
 • elevation3,080 m (10,100 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Orinoco
 • coordinates
4°4′26.5656″N 67°43′14.8008″W / 4.074046000°N 67.720778000°W / 4.074046000; -67.720778000
 • elevation
77 m (253 ft)
Length1,760 km (1,090 mi) - Guaviare–Guayabero[1]
Basin size151,606.9 km2 (58,535.8 sq mi)[4]
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average(Period: 1926–2011)7,529 m3/s (265,900 cu ft/s)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationCoayare (3°57′30.3876″N 67°50′5.748″W / 3.958441000°N 67.83493000°W / 3.958441000; -67.83493000; Basin size: 138,899.1 km2 (53,629.2 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 1985–2015)6,778.9 m3/s (239,390 cu ft/s)[3]
 • minimum(Year: 1994)826 m3/s (29,200 cu ft/s)[3]
 • maximum(Year: 1988)15,906 m3/s (561,700 cu ft/s)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationSan José del Guaviare (Basin size: 36,287.3 km2 (14,010.6 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 1971–2000)1,594.8 m3/s (56,320 cu ft/s)[4]
Basin features
ProgressionOrinoco → Atlantic Ocean
River systemOrinoco River
Tributaries 
 • leftAriari, Caño El Melón, Ovejas, Caño Jabón, Siare, Iteviare, Caño Cumaral, Uvá
 • rightGuayabero, Caño Macú, Caño Araguato, Caño Mina, Caño Minisiare, Inírida, Atabapo

The Guaviare is a tributary of the Orinoco in Colombia. It flows together with the upper Orinoco (until here also called Río Parágua), which it clearly surpasses in length (altogether about 1,760 km) and water flow. Thus, the Guaviare is hydrologically the main stream of the Orinoco system.[1]

The Guaviare has its source in two other rivers, the Ariari and the Guayabero, which in turn have their own sources in the eastern part of the Andes. At 1,760 km (1,090 mi) long, it is the longest tributary of the Orinoco and is navigable for 630 km (390 mi) of its total length. The Guaviare is considered the border between the Llanos and the Amazon Rainforest. Its main tributary is the Inírida River.

Discharge

Average, minimum and maximum discharge at Coayare (Guayare), 3°57′30.3876″N 67°50′5.748″W / 3.958441000°N 67.83493000°W / 3.958441000; -67.83493000 (Lower Guaviare). Period: 1985–2015.

Year Discharge (m3/s)
Min Mean Max
1985 1,206.5 6,426.17 12,716
1986 2,006.7 6,687.58 12,885
1987 1,620.4 7,063.17 12,664
1988 2,140 6,415.83 15,906
1989 2,674 6,843.67 15,800
1990 2,237 7,433.17 15,274
1991 850 6,999.33 14,910
1992 964 5,893.83 13,866
1993 1,031 7,613.92 13,229
1994 826 7,025.67 13,722
1995 1,663 6,014.08 12,689
1996 1,565 6,928.83 13,413
1997 2,232 6,634.5 11,841
1998 2,342 7,370.42 13,281
1999 2,775 7,311.92 11,574
2000 1,605 6,894.33 14,291
2001 1,835 6,289.17 14,500
2002 1,081 5,716.25 13,978
2003 921.1 7,002.83 13,319
2004 938.8 7,087.42 14,483
2005 1,381 6,411.08 14,500
2006 1,598 7,227 14,256
2007 962.4 7,149.92 14,201
2008 1,177 6,649.83 13,860
2009 1,795 5,806.42 14,465
2010 891.6 6,587.75 13,270
2011 1,356 7,036 13,030
2012 1,780 7,183.33 15,157
2013 1,111 6,941.17 14,100
2014 1,016 7,050.83 14,830
2015 1,613 6,449.67 14,500
Avg. 1,522.4 6,778.9 13,877.4

[3]

Average discharge

Period Discharge Ref.
Near mouth

4°4′26.5656″N 67°43′14.8008″W / 4.074046000°N 67.720778000°W / 4.074046000; -67.720778000

1926–2011 7,529 m3/s (265,900 cu ft/s) [2]
1971–2000 8,157.9 m3/s (288,090 cu ft/s) [4]
1974–2008 8,416 m3/s (297,200 cu ft/s) [5]
7,400 m3/s (260,000 cu ft/s)

8,200 m3/s (290,000 cu ft/s)

Coayare (Guayare)

3°57′30.3876″N 67°50′5.748″W / 3.958441000°N 67.83493000°W / 3.958441000; -67.83493000

1971–2000 7,254.9 m3/s (256,200 cu ft/s) [4]
1991–2020 7,389 m3/s (260,900 cu ft/s) [6]
1985–2015 6,778.9 m3/s (239,390 cu ft/s) [3]
6,700 m3/s (240,000 cu ft/s)
6,887 m3/s (243,200 cu ft/s)
San José del Guaviare
1971–2000 1,594.8 m3/s (56,320 cu ft/s) [4]
1,930 m3/s (68,000 cu ft/s)

Sediment load at mouth ca 30 million ton/year.[7]

Tributaries

The main tributaries from the mouth:[4]

Left

tributary

Right

tributary

Length

(km)

Basin size

(km2)

*Average discharge

(m3/s)

Guaviare 1,760 151,606.9 8,157.9
Lower Guaviare
Atabapo 185 12,531.3 895
Inírida 1,419 53,816.9 2,948.4
Uvá 14,813.9 782.6
Middle Guaviare
Caño Minisiare 2,335.5 119.3
Caño Mina 381.9 20
Caño Cumaral 391.5 21.3
Iteviare 4,618 221.3
Siare 4,574.5 197.9
Caño Araguato 712.3 38.5
Caño Macú 781.1 37
Caño Yamus 433 18.3
Caño Jabón 1,246.7 57.3
Ovejas 1,639.1 88.1
Caño El Melón 775.9 41
Upper Guaviare
Ariari 11,638.6 600.3
Guayabero 540 24,345.9 986.2

*1971–2000

References

  1. ^ a b Silva León, Gustavo. "La cuenca del río Orinoco: visión hidrográfica y balance hídrico". Revista Geográfica Venezolana. 46 (1) 2005: 75–108.
  2. ^ a b José Rafael, Córdova; Marcelo González, Sanabria. La geografía del agua (PDF).
  3. ^ a b c d e Aldebaran Antonio, Atencio Pachon; Nicolás Enciso, Sepúlveda; Luis Eduardo, Pulido Cetina (2018). EVALUACIÓN DE LAS TENDENCIAS DE LOS CAUDALES MEDIOS, MÍNIMOS Y MÁXIMOS DEL RIO GUAVIARE, DEPARTAMENTO DEL GUAVIARE, EN COLOMBIA (PDF).
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Orinoco".
  5. ^ Félix Dario, Sánchez; Martha, García; Omar, Jaramillo; Nelsy, Verdugo (2010). Estudio Nacional del Agua 2010. ISBN 978-958-8067-32-2.
  6. ^ ESTUDIO NACIONAL DEL AGUA 2022 (PDF). 2023. ISBN 978-958-5489-12-7.
  7. ^ Robert H., Meade (1994). SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS OF THE MODERN AMAZON AND ORINOCO RIVERS. Vol. 21. p. 29-39.
  • The information in this article is based on a translation of its German equivalent.

4°02′34″N 67°42′41″W / 4.0427°N 67.7115°W / 4.0427; -67.7115


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