Puerto Rico Hydrography
Puerto Rico's hydrography encompasses its diverse water features, including rivers, lakes, and coastal areas:
Rivers
The island has several significant rivers, with the Rio de la Plata, Rio Grande de Loiza, and Rio Caguas being among the most notable. These rivers are essential for the island's water supply and support various ecosystems.
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1. Culebrines 2. Guajataca 3. Camuy 4. Grande de Arecibo 5. Grande de Manatí 6. Cibuco 7. La Plata 8. Bayamón 9. Piedras 10. Grande de Loiza |
11. Herrera 12. Espiritu Santo 13. Fajardo 14. Blanco 15. Humacao 16. Guayanés 17. Grande de Patilla 18. Guamani 19. Salinas 20. Coamo |
21. Descalabrado 22. Jacaguas 23. Inabón 24. Bucana 25. Portugués 26. Matilde 27. Tallaboa 28. Yauco 29. Guanajibo 30. Grande de Añasco |
| Longest Rivers (kms.) | |||
| La Plata | 48 | Guajataca | 27 |
| Grande de Añasco | 43 | Coamo | 27 |
| Grande de Loiza | 41 | Camuy | 26 |
| Manati | 40 | Jacaguas | 26 |
| Arecibo | 38 | Yauco | 24 |
| Bayamon | 34 | Salinas | 21 |
| Culebrinas | 33 | Guayanés | 18 |
| Guanajibo | 30 | Tallaboa | 16 |
| Cibuco | 29 | ||
Lakes and Reservoirs
Puerto Rico has a number of artificial lakes and reservoirs created primarily for water supply and hydroelectric power. Key examples include Lago Carraizo, Lago La Plata, and Lago Dos Bocas.
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1. Guajataca 2. Dos Bocas 3. Comerio 4. Curias 5. Loiza 6. Patillas 7. Carite 8. Cidra |
9. Guamani 10. Coamo 11. Toa Vaca 12. Matrullas 13. Guineo 14. Guayabal 15. Yauco 16. Prieto |
17. Yahuecas 18. Garzas 19. Adjuntas 20. Pellejas 21. Vivi 22. Caonillas |
Wetlands and Estuaries
The island includes important wetland areas and estuaries, such as the Laguna Grande and Rio Espiritu Santo Estuary, which support rich biodiversity and provide critical habitats for wildlife.
Marine Environment
Puerto Rico's marine environment includes coral reefs, seagrass beds, and deep ocean waters. The island is also part of the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, which lies to the north of the island.
Puerto Rico's hydrography plays a crucial role in its ecological balance, providing water resources, supporting agriculture, and sustaining diverse marine and freshwater ecosystems.
