The Madre de Dios River () is a river shared by Bolivia and Peru which is homonymous to the
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
vian
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
it runs through. On Bolivian territory it receives the
Beni River
The Beni River ( es, Río Beni) is a river in the north of Bolivia.
It rises north of La Paz and flows northeast. The Madre de Dios River is where its mouth is at. In the upper portion of its course it flows through highland forest and rainforest ...
, close to the town of
Riberalta, which later joins with the
Mamore River to become the
Madeira River
The Madeira River ( pt, Rio Madeira, link=no ) is a major waterway in South America. It is estimated to be in length, while the Madeira-Mamoré is estimated near or in length depending on the measuring party and their methods. The Madeira is ...
after the confluence. The Madeira is a tributary to the
Amazon River.
The Madre de Dios is an important waterway for the department of
Madre de Dios, particularly
Puerto Maldonado
Puerto Maldonado () is a city in southeastern Peru in the Amazon rainforest west of the Bolivian border, located at the confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. The latter river joins the Madeira River as a tributary of the Amazon ...
, the largest town in the area, and the capital of the department.
Mango farming and gold mining are among the many industries on its beaches. Other important industries the Madre de Dios provides are selective
logging and farming, both of which are serious environmental problems. Along the length of the river there are several national parks and reserves, notably
Tambopata-Candamo National Park,
Manú National Park
Manú National Park ( es, Parque Nacional del Manú) is a national park and biosphere reserve located in the regions of Madre de Dios and Cusco in Peru. It protects a diverse number of ecosystems including lowland rainforests, cloud forests and ...
(also known as Manú
Biosphere Reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
) and
Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.
Hydrography
The Madre de Dios serves as the largest
watershed in the area, as part of the vast
Amazon River watershed. The river's main tributaries include on the right: Chivile, Azul, Blanco,
Inambari,
Tambopata and Colorado rivers and from the left:
Los Amigos,
Manú, and
Las Piedras.
Evaluacion Ambiental Territorial en la Zona Aurifera de Madre de Dios
''
4. Climatología E Hidrologia
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Peruvian Government, December 1997.
References
External links
Madre de Dios Watershedat
NASA Earth Observatory
NASA Earth Observatory is an online publishing outlet for NASA which was created in 1999. It is the principal source of satellite imagery and other scientific information pertaining to the climate and the environment which are being provided by NA ...
Stroud Water Research Center Project in Madre de Dios, Peru
{{Authority control
Rivers of Peru
International rivers of South America
Rivers of Beni Department
Rivers of Pando Department
Rivers of Madre de Dios Region