Suchiate River
| Suchiate River | ||
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| Data | ||
| location | Guatemala | |
| source | Tacaná volcano 15 ° 9 ′ 47 ″ N , 91 ° 57 ′ 22 ″ W. |
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| Source height | 3000 m | |
| muzzle |
Pacific Coordinates: 14 ° 31 '48 " N , 92 ° 13' 36" W 14 ° 31 '48 " N , 92 ° 13' 36" W.
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| length | 161 km | |
| Catchment area | 1400 km² (including 336 km² in Mexico) |
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The Río Suchiate has its source in the area of the Tacaná volcano in the western highlands of Guatemala near the border with Mexico. The last 75 km on its way south into the Pacific Ocean it forms the border between the two countries.
Toponym
The name Suchiate can probably be traced back to origins in the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by the Aztecs, who also dominated this region in the 15th and early 16th centuries . The Aztec name Xochi Atl means something like 'flower water '.
border
Two bridges span the river: the Puente Internacional de Talisman connects the towns of El Carmen (Guatemala) and Talismán (Mexico) ; the Puente Dr. Rodolfo Robles connects the cities of Tecún Umán and Hidalgo . Both are important border crossing points for emigrants from the Central American states of Honduras , Nicaragua and El Salvador on their way to the USA . The 'local border traffic' between Mexico and Guatemala is often done on foot or with rubber dinghies.
Attractions
The pre-Columbian site of Izapa can be found - just a few kilometers from the river - in the southwest of the small town of Tuxtla Chico in the area of today's state of Chiapas in Mexico.
