Río Motagua
| Río Motagua | ||
 Río Motagua in the dry season |
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| Data | ||
| location | Guatemala | |
| River system | Río Motagua | |
| source |
Sierra Madre de Chiapas 14 ° 56 ′ 56 " N , 91 ° 0 ′ 32" W. |
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| Source height | 1800 m | |
| muzzle |
Gulf of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea Coordinates: 15 ° 44 ′ 40 ″ N , 88 ° 16 ′ 0 ″ W 15 ° 44 ′ 40 ″ N , 88 ° 16 ′ 0 ″ W
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| length | 486 km | |
| Catchment area | 12,670 km² | |
| Drain |
MQ |
208.7 m³ / s |
 Río Motagua (Overview Map) |
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The Río Motagua (also Río Grande ) is the longest river in Guatemala with a length of 486 km . It rises at an altitude of about 1,800 m above sea level. d. M. in the central highlands of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas near Chichicastenango , crosses Guatemala from west to east in the Motagua-Polochic Fault and flows into the Caribbean Sea in the Gulf of Honduras .
The upper course , which is also called Río Silapec (or Río Silepec or Río Silbapec ) and drains large parts of the highlands, forms the border between the departments of El Quiché and Chimaltenango and between Baja Verapaz and Guatemala . In the department of El Progreso begins the Motagua Valley, which gradually opens towards the northeast and has long been one of the most important transport axes in Guatemala. The CA 9 highway and the currently disused railway line from Guatemala City to Puerto Barrios run along the river . The river crosses the departments of Zacapa and Izabal . Here the Río Copán reaches it from the south . The lower reaches form the center of a very fertile region, which is mainly used for the cultivation of bananas . On the last kilometers before the mouth, the Río Motagua is navigable for smaller ships after sufficient rainfall in the highlands; here it forms the border between Guatemala and Honduras .
In the middle section of the river are the most important sites for the jade stone , which is so popular with all Mesoamerican cultures , from which death masks, but also ceremonial objects (knives, scepter) and jewelry (earrings) were made. Further to the east - near Los Amates - less than 1 km from the river is the important Maya site of Quiriguá .
