List of rivers of Ponce
Encyclopedia
This list of rivers of Ponce consists of the 14 rivers in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
. Rivers that either originate in the municipality or that run the bulk of their course through said municipality are listed. Except for two rivers, Rio Portugues and Rio Jacaguas, all other rivers originate and terminate within the boundaries of the municipality of Ponce. This list does not include quebradas (English: brook
s). Only streams recognized as "rivers" by the United States Geological Survey
and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
are included here.
All the rivers in the municipality of Ponce run into one of four river basins that then empty into the Caribbean Sea
. These four river basins are: Rio Matilde
, Rio Bucana
, Rio Inabon
, and Rio Jacaguas.
Rio Pastillo
and Rio Canas merge to form Rio Matilde. Rio Blanco
, Rio Prieto
, Rio San Patricio
, Rio Bayagan
, Rio Cerrillos
, Rio Chiquito
, and Rio Portugues all run in one manner or other into Rio Bucana. Rio Anon
feeds into Rio Inabon (Rio Guayo also feeds into Rio Inabon, but Rio Guayo is not located in the municipality of Ponce). Rio Jacaguas is actually shared between the municipalities of Ponce and Juana Diaz
, as it forms the boundary between the two municipalities. Various rivers feed into Rio Jacaguas, but none of them are located within the municipality of Ponce.
Two rivers, Rio Bucana and Rio Portugues, are partially channelized
. These channelization occur in parts of the urban area of the city of Ponce. Additionally, two rivers have been damed: Rio Cerrillos was damed to create the Cerrillos Lake, and the daming of Rio Portugues is expected to create the Portugues Lake when the project is completed in 2013. The daming of Rio Cerrillos occurred north of the point where Rio Bayagan feeds into Rio Cerrillos but south of where Rio San Patricio feeds into Rio Cerrillos.
at the mouth of the river:
, or roughly, where the river's mouth is relative to the Ponce shore:
0 km from shore (mouth at Caribbean Sea
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. Rivers that either originate in the municipality or that run the bulk of their course through said municipality are listed. Except for two rivers, Rio Portugues and Rio Jacaguas, all other rivers originate and terminate within the boundaries of the municipality of Ponce. This list does not include quebradas (English: brook
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s). Only streams recognized as "rivers" by the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources was created by Law 23 of June 20, 1972, during the governorship of Luis A. Ferré. In 1973, as a gesture of bipartisanship, Ferré's successor, Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón appointed his predecessor's Puerto Rico Environmental Quality...
are included here.
All the rivers in the municipality of Ponce run into one of four river basins that then empty into the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. These four river basins are: Rio Matilde
Río Matilde
The Río Matilde is a short river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It forms from the confluence of Rio Pastillo and Rio Canas This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality and, forming at an altitude of just , it is the river forming at the lowest altitute in Ponce.-Origin:At ...
, Rio Bucana
Río Bucaná
Río Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
, Rio Inabon
Río Inabón
Río Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the...
, and Rio Jacaguas.
Rio Pastillo
Río Pastillo
Río Pastillo is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as "Rio Marueño". Together with Rio Canas, Rio Pastillo forms Rio Matilde. Rio Pastillo is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
and Rio Canas merge to form Rio Matilde. Rio Blanco
Río Blanco
-United States:*Rio Blanco & Rio Blanco County, Colorado**Rio Blanco Oil Shale Company*Rio Blanco, Puerto Rico*Blanco River -Uruguay:...
, Rio Prieto
Río Prieto
Río Prieto is the name of several rivers in Puerto Rico:* Río Prieto * Río Prieto * Río Prieto * Río Prieto * Río Prieto...
, Rio San Patricio
Río San Patricio
The Río San Patricio is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Rio Bucana river system via Rio Cerrillos. RIo San Patricio is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
, Rio Bayagan
Río Bayagán
Río Bayagán is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Bayagán is a tributary of Río Cerrillos. It has a length of approximately 6 kilometers and generally runs south. It originates in barrio Montes Llanos and runs south through barrio Machuelo Arriba for about 9 kilometers until it...
, Rio Cerrillos
Rio Cerrillos
Río Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one...
, Rio Chiquito
Río Chiquito
The Río Chiquito is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. This river feeds into the Rio Portugues in the sector called Parras. It has its origin in the mountains west of Montes Llanos. Rio Chiquito is fed by Quebrada del Pastillo...
, and Rio Portugues all run in one manner or other into Rio Bucana. Rio Anon
Río Anon
Río Anón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Anón is one of 13 rivers in the municipality of Ponce and, at , it is also the third with the highest river mouth location, after Río Prieto and Río Blanco, both of which have their mouths at . Río Anón is a tributary of Río Inabón....
feeds into Rio Inabon (Rio Guayo also feeds into Rio Inabon, but Rio Guayo is not located in the municipality of Ponce). Rio Jacaguas is actually shared between the municipalities of Ponce and Juana Diaz
Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
, as it forms the boundary between the two municipalities. Various rivers feed into Rio Jacaguas, but none of them are located within the municipality of Ponce.
Two rivers, Rio Bucana and Rio Portugues, are partially channelized
River engineering
River engineering is the process of planned human intervention in the course, characteristics or flow of a river with the intention of producing some defined benefit. People have intervened in the natural course and behaviour of rivers since before recorded history - to manage the water resources,...
. These channelization occur in parts of the urban area of the city of Ponce. Additionally, two rivers have been damed: Rio Cerrillos was damed to create the Cerrillos Lake, and the daming of Rio Portugues is expected to create the Portugues Lake when the project is completed in 2013. The daming of Rio Cerrillos occurred north of the point where Rio Bayagan feeds into Rio Cerrillos but south of where Rio San Patricio feeds into Rio Cerrillos.
River list summary table
| No. | Name | Elevation at Origin (feet) |
Elevation at Mouth (feet) |
River Length (km) |
Watershed Area (sq mi) (0= Not Available) |
Discharge (cu ft/s) (0= Not Available) |
Approximate Mouth distance from shore (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Río Anón Río Anon Río Anón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Anón is one of 13 rivers in the municipality of Ponce and, at , it is also the third with the highest river mouth location, after Río Prieto and Río Blanco, both of which have their mouths at . Río Anón is a tributary of Río Inabón.... |
3,854 | 1,060 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 12.0 |
| 2 | Río Bayagán Río Bayagán Río Bayagán is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Bayagán is a tributary of Río Cerrillos. It has a length of approximately 6 kilometers and generally runs south. It originates in barrio Montes Llanos and runs south through barrio Machuelo Arriba for about 9 kilometers until it... |
141 | 42 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 |
| 3 | Río Blanco | 2,970 | 1,381 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 |
| 4 | Río Bucaná Río Bucaná Río Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run... |
115 | 0 | 9.16 | 28.45 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Río Canas Río Cañas (Ponce, Puerto Rico) The Río Cañas, also known as Río Canas, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as Río Magueyes in the area of barrio Magueyes in the municipality of Ponce... |
930 | 15 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 |
| 6 | Rio Cerrillos Rio Cerrillos Río Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one... |
1,200 | 69 | 29.8 | 17.80 | 24,000 | 5.0 |
| 7 | Río Chiquito | 1,170 | 98 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 |
| 8 | Río Inabón Río Inabón Río Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the... |
4,100 | 0 | 32.01 | 38.18 | 15,000 | 0 |
| 9 | Río Jacaguas | 2,099 | 0 | 39.72 | 59.85 | 37,000 | 0 |
| 10 | Río Matilde Río Matilde The Río Matilde is a short river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It forms from the confluence of Rio Pastillo and Rio Canas This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality and, forming at an altitude of just , it is the river forming at the lowest altitute in Ponce.-Origin:At ... |
15 | 0 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Río Pastillo Río Pastillo Río Pastillo is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as "Rio Marueño". Together with Rio Canas, Rio Pastillo forms Rio Matilde. Rio Pastillo is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:... |
435 | 15 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 |
| 12 | Río Portugués | 2,853 | 3 | 29.66 | 20.33 | 16,000 | 2.0 |
| 13 | Río Prieto Río Prieto (Ponce, Puerto Rico) Río Prieto is a river in the minicipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Forming at an altitude of , Rio Prieto originates at the second highest point of any river in the municipality after Rio Inabon. It empties into Rio Cerrillos. Together with Rio Blanco, Río Prieto is one of the two rivers in Ponce... |
3,920 | 1,381 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 14.0 |
| 14 | Río San Patricio Río San Patricio The Río San Patricio is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Rio Bucana river system via Rio Cerrillos. RIo San Patricio is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:... |
1,917 | 660 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 |
Listed alphabetically
- Río AnónRío AnonRío Anón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Anón is one of 13 rivers in the municipality of Ponce and, at , it is also the third with the highest river mouth location, after Río Prieto and Río Blanco, both of which have their mouths at . Río Anón is a tributary of Río Inabón....
- Río BayagánRío BayagánRío Bayagán is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Bayagán is a tributary of Río Cerrillos. It has a length of approximately 6 kilometers and generally runs south. It originates in barrio Montes Llanos and runs south through barrio Machuelo Arriba for about 9 kilometers until it...
- Río Blanco
- Río BucanáRío BucanáRío Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
- Río CanasRío Cañas (Ponce, Puerto Rico)The Río Cañas, also known as Río Canas, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as Río Magueyes in the area of barrio Magueyes in the municipality of Ponce...
- Rio CerrillosRio CerrillosRío Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one...
- Río Chiquito
- Río InabónRío InabónRío Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the...
- Río Jacaguas
- Río MatildeRío MatildeThe Río Matilde is a short river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It forms from the confluence of Rio Pastillo and Rio Canas This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality and, forming at an altitude of just , it is the river forming at the lowest altitute in Ponce.-Origin:At ...
- Río PastilloRío PastilloRío Pastillo is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as "Rio Marueño". Together with Rio Canas, Rio Pastillo forms Rio Matilde. Rio Pastillo is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
- Río Portugués
- Río PrietoRío Prieto (Ponce, Puerto Rico)Río Prieto is a river in the minicipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Forming at an altitude of , Rio Prieto originates at the second highest point of any river in the municipality after Rio Inabon. It empties into Rio Cerrillos. Together with Rio Blanco, Río Prieto is one of the two rivers in Ponce...
- Río San PatricioRío San PatricioThe Río San Patricio is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Rio Bucana river system via Rio Cerrillos. RIo San Patricio is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
Listed from west to east
Listed according to the latitudeLatitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
at the mouth of the river:
- Río PastilloRío PastilloRío Pastillo is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as "Rio Marueño". Together with Rio Canas, Rio Pastillo forms Rio Matilde. Rio Pastillo is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
- at 66.6404508 W - Río CanasRío Cañas (Ponce, Puerto Rico)The Río Cañas, also known as Río Canas, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as Río Magueyes in the area of barrio Magueyes in the municipality of Ponce...
- at 66.6404508 W - Río Chiquito - at 66.6135062 W
- Río Blanco - at 66.6079505 W
- Río PrietoRío Prieto (Ponce, Puerto Rico)Río Prieto is a river in the minicipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Forming at an altitude of , Rio Prieto originates at the second highest point of any river in the municipality after Rio Inabon. It empties into Rio Cerrillos. Together with Rio Blanco, Río Prieto is one of the two rivers in Ponce...
- at 66.6079505 W - Río San PatricioRío San PatricioThe Río San Patricio is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Rio Bucana river system via Rio Cerrillos. RIo San Patricio is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
- at 66.6068395 W - Río BucanáRío BucanáRío Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
- at 66.5998946 W - Río BayagánRío BayagánRío Bayagán is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Bayagán is a tributary of Río Cerrillos. It has a length of approximately 6 kilometers and generally runs south. It originates in barrio Montes Llanos and runs south through barrio Machuelo Arriba for about 9 kilometers until it...
- at 66.5857282 W - Río MatildeRío MatildeThe Río Matilde is a short river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It forms from the confluence of Rio Pastillo and Rio Canas This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality and, forming at an altitude of just , it is the river forming at the lowest altitute in Ponce.-Origin:At ...
- at 66.5798949 W - Río Portugués - at 66.5798949 W
- Río AnónRío AnonRío Anón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Anón is one of 13 rivers in the municipality of Ponce and, at , it is also the third with the highest river mouth location, after Río Prieto and Río Blanco, both of which have their mouths at . Río Anón is a tributary of Río Inabón....
- at 66.5798949 W - Rio CerrillosRio CerrillosRío Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one...
- at 66.5798949 W - Río InabónRío InabónRío Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the...
- at 66.5582270 W - Río Jacaguas - at 66.5393380 W
Listed from south to north
This lists the rivers in order of their longitudeLongitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
, or roughly, where the river's mouth is relative to the Ponce shore:
0 km from shore (mouth at Caribbean SeaCaribbean SeaThe Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
)
- Río MatildeRío MatildeThe Río Matilde is a short river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It forms from the confluence of Rio Pastillo and Rio Canas This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality and, forming at an altitude of just , it is the river forming at the lowest altitute in Ponce.-Origin:At ...
- Río BucanáRío BucanáRío Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
- Río InabónRío InabónRío Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the...
- Río Jacaguas
Up to 1 km from shore
- Río PastilloRío PastilloRío Pastillo is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as "Rio Marueño". Together with Rio Canas, Rio Pastillo forms Rio Matilde. Rio Pastillo is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
- at 18.0019106 N - Río CanasRío Cañas (Ponce, Puerto Rico)The Río Cañas, also known as Río Canas, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is also known as Río Magueyes in the area of barrio Magueyes in the municipality of Ponce...
- at 18.0019106 N - Río Chiquito - at 18.0330201 N
- Río BayagánRío BayagánRío Bayagán is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Bayagán is a tributary of Río Cerrillos. It has a length of approximately 6 kilometers and generally runs south. It originates in barrio Montes Llanos and runs south through barrio Machuelo Arriba for about 9 kilometers until it...
- at 18.0435751 N
Up to 2 km from shore
- Río San PatricioRío San PatricioThe Río San Patricio is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Rio Bucana river system via Rio Cerrillos. RIo San Patricio is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.-Origin:...
- at 18.1177384 N - Río Portugués - at 18.1319046 N
- Río AnónRío AnonRío Anón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Río Anón is one of 13 rivers in the municipality of Ponce and, at , it is also the third with the highest river mouth location, after Río Prieto and Río Blanco, both of which have their mouths at . Río Anón is a tributary of Río Inabón....
- at 18.1319046 N - Rio CerrillosRio CerrillosRío Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one...
- at 18.1319046 N
Up to 3 km from shore
- Río Blanco - at 18.1438485 N
- Río PrietoRío Prieto (Ponce, Puerto Rico)Río Prieto is a river in the minicipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Forming at an altitude of , Rio Prieto originates at the second highest point of any river in the municipality after Rio Inabon. It empties into Rio Cerrillos. Together with Rio Blanco, Río Prieto is one of the two rivers in Ponce...
- at 18.1438485 N
External links
- USGS Geographic Names Information Service
- USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region (1974)
- Los Rios.Hojas de Nuestro Ambiente. February 2007: P013. Page 2. Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Retrieved 30 October 2011.