Saladillo Stream
Encyclopedia
The Saladillo Stream is a small tributary
of the Paraná River
, that discharges into it
between the cities of Rosario
and Villa Gobernador Gálvez
, in the . It serves as the political border between these two towns of the Greater Rosario
area, and is one of the two important affluents of the Paraná in the area, together with the Ludueña Stream
in the north.
Although in Spanish the Saladillo is called an arroyo, it is not an arroyo
in the English sense of a dry or intermittent stream. The Spanish word arroyo means "stream" or "brook", but the Saladillo is a sizable river
with a drainage basin
encompassing 3205 square kilometres (1,237.5 sq mi). Río Saladillo is a variant name in Spanish. Its water services an important area in the southern part of Santa Fe province—both economically for agriculture
, and demographically, since its last few kilometres flow through inside a densely populated area (Rosario has over a million residents). The port of Villa Gobernador Gálvez is located on the mouth of the Saladillo.
Most of the Saladillo is canalized, and parts are channelized, as are its main tributaries. It requires periodic dredging to support its massive use for agriculture, which in turn degrades the water quality
with pollutant
s such as pesticide
s and fertilizer
s, and tends to fill the river with sediment
s produced by erosion
. The Saladillo's riparian zone
is subject to flood
ing. The lower course is an urban stream
, and is polluted
by industrial and domestic waste.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, that discharges into it
Base level
The base level of a river or stream is the lowest point to which it can flow, often referred to as the 'mouth' of the river. For large rivers, sea level is usually the base level, but a large river or lake is likewise the base level for tributary streams...
between the cities of Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
and Villa Gobernador Gálvez
Villa Gobernador Gálvez
Villa Gobernador Gálvez is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, located on the western ravine of the Paraná River, within the metropolitan area of Greater Rosario. It has 74,509 inhabitants per the . It is separated from Rosario, to the north, by the Saladillo Stream...
, in the . It serves as the political border between these two towns of the Greater Rosario
Greater Rosario
Greater Rosario is the metropolitan area of the city of Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. This metropolis has a population of about 1.5 million , thus being Argentina's second most populated urban settlement, after Buenos Aires....
area, and is one of the two important affluents of the Paraná in the area, together with the Ludueña Stream
Ludueña Stream
The Ludueña Stream is a small river in the , which starts near the city of Rosario and flows through it, mostly east-southwards, ending in the Paraná River in the neighbourhood commonly known as Arroyito, near Rosario Central's football stadium.The Ludueña drains an area which includes Rosario...
in the north.
Although in Spanish the Saladillo is called an arroyo, it is not an arroyo
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
in the English sense of a dry or intermittent stream. The Spanish word arroyo means "stream" or "brook", but the Saladillo is a sizable river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
with a drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
encompassing 3205 square kilometres (1,237.5 sq mi). Río Saladillo is a variant name in Spanish. Its water services an important area in the southern part of Santa Fe province—both economically for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and demographically, since its last few kilometres flow through inside a densely populated area (Rosario has over a million residents). The port of Villa Gobernador Gálvez is located on the mouth of the Saladillo.
Most of the Saladillo is canalized, and parts are channelized, as are its main tributaries. It requires periodic dredging to support its massive use for agriculture, which in turn degrades the water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
with pollutant
Pollutant
A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil, and is the cause of pollution.Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, its concentration and its persistence. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment in the...
s such as pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
s, and tends to fill the river with sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
s produced by erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
. The Saladillo's riparian zone
Riparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
is subject to flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing. The lower course is an urban stream
Urban stream
An urban stream is a formerly natural waterway that flows through a heavily populated area. Urban streams are often significantly polluted, due to urban runoff and combined sewer outflows....
, and is polluted
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
by industrial and domestic waste.