55:
40:
530:
Though the right to safe drinking water is mandated in
Guatemala, it is obstructed by poor waste management regulations and limited government intervention. Much of Guatemala’s rural population works in agriculture, which further increases the demand for safe water. The Guatemalan government began to
500:
from
Guatemala City carried by the Río Las Vacas tributary. It is one of the world’s most polluted rivers and accounts for about two percent of plastic emissions into the world’s oceans. Those living along the river also contribute to the pollution, as each person disposes, on average, 1.15 pounds of
521:
and
Guatemala, in which conservation efforts are prioritized in an effort to maintain species diversity. The pollution also affects the many Indigenous communities who rely on the resources that the river provides. Additionally, members of coastal communities must often pick up the trash themselves
480:
The water quality of rivers in
Guatemala is generally poor because there are no standard measures for maintaining river water conditions. Water quality regulation policy also often fails to dictate responsibilities between the government and individual departments, and has not been adequately
438:
era. The trade route played a role in facilitating the transfer of goods, ideas, and even people. The river's use as a trade route is evidenced by jade items and specific methods of pottery having been discovered across multiple different regions in
562:, Río Cotón, Río Suchicul, Río Morazán, Río Comajá, Río Lato, Río Huijo, Río La Palmilla, Río Teculutan, Río Pasabien, Río Hondo, Río Jones, Río Los Achiotes, Río Mayuelas, Río El Lobo, Quebrada Agua Fría, Quebrada La Vegega, Río Las Conchas
685:
422:
likely settled in the
Motagua River valley in around 2000 BC. They used the green jade to make beads and amulets. These objects were often used for religious rituals or to signify wealth. The Maya site of
1114:"Securing a National Water Policy in Guatemala: Understanding Barriers and Potential Implementation Strategies through Comparison with the Establishment of Regional Mining Laws"
481:
implemented or coordinated at the administrative level. Despite this, attempts at legislation to improve water quality regulation have often prolonged for multiple years in the
940:
Fabricant, Florence. "Monuments of the Maya: Copan and
Quirigua in Central America are Dotted with Majestic Stele, Arrayed Like Sandstone Sculptures Maya Monuments."
338:
communities that have inhabited the region. The
Motagua River is also one of the most plastic-emitting rivers in the world, contributing around two percent of global
736:
Mazariegos-Ortíz, Carlos; de los Ángeles
Rosales, María; Carrillo-Ovalle, Leonel; Cardoso, Renan Pereira; Muniz, Marcelo Costa; dos Anjos, Roberto Meigikos (2020).
418:
were believed to have first settled in the
Motagua River valley in around 3000 BC. They constructed figures, masks, and ornaments using the blue-green jade. The
546:
also chose the river as the test site for its experimental "Interceptor
Trashfence," which attempts to filter out solid pollutants as they flow downriver.
411:, who was directed by a local tomato farmer. The rarer blue-green jade, used by the Olmec people, was re-discovered further north of the river in 2002.
1141:
354:
The river begins in the Western Highlands of Guatemala and runs along the Atlantic slope. Traveling in an easterly direction, it passes through 14 of
535:
to implement the National Water and Sanitation Policy in Guatemala, which outlines a number of objectives to improve regulation and conservation.
570:
Río Chipaca, Rio Agua Escondida, Rio Quisaya, Rio Pixcayá, Río Cotzibal, Río Las Vacas, Río Grande, Río Ovejas, Río El Tambor, Río San Vicente,
1600:
1157:
912:
1235:
1314:
1140:
US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District & Topographic Engineering Center. (2000). Water Resources Assessment of Guatemala.
366:. The river mouth opens at El Quetzalito Beach, which is located along the Guatemalan coast, and flows into the Gulf of Honduras.
542:
Project Guatemala seek to involve local government and community members in prioritizing limiting waste from reaching the ocean.
532:
209:
1605:
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472:. Those living along the river were instructed not to use the contaminated water for drinking, cooking, or cleaning.
633:
362:. Along its course, water flows in from 29 other major rivers. The final few kilometres of the river form part of the
110:
1595:
1142:
https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Portals/46/docs/military/engineering/docs/WRA/Guatemala/Guatemala%20WRA%20English.pdf
427:, located along the river, contains several ruins of monuments and religious structures. The important Maya site of
1307:
1267:
1210:
386:
323:. The Motagua River basin covers an area of 12,670 square kilometres (4,890 sq mi) and is the largest in
531:
take action by constructing bio-fences to filter waste traveling down the river. They have also worked with the
59:
The Motagua River, flowing from the highlands in western Guatemala to the coast at the Guatemala–Honduras border
1554:
574:, Río Carí, Río Las Naranjas, Río Biafra, Río El Islote, Río Jubuco, Río Lagarto, Río Tepemechín, Río Juyamá,
363:
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and are financially burdened by the effects of pollution on popular industries such as fishing and tourism.
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959:"13 Jade in Full: Prehispanic Domestic Production of Wealth Goods in the Middle Motagua Valley, Guatemala"
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1300:
660:
958:
820:
738:"First evidence of microplastic pollution in the El Quetzalito sand beach of the Guatemalan Caribbean"
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is near the river's north bank, as are several smaller sites with jade quarries and workshops.
1262:
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401:. Green jade, which was used by the Aztec and Maya people, was re-discovered in the 1950s by
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Gil-Rodas, Norma; Calvo-Brenes, Guillermo; Guerra, Alex; Perdomo, Alejandra (2021).
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1236:"Guatemala is taking big steps to upgrade its National Water and Sanitation Policy"
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emissions into oceans annually. Conservation efforts have been driven by the
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1158:"The Ocean Cleanup Trials New Interceptor in World's Most Polluting River"
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1062:"Water quality assessment of six rivers of the Pacific side of Guatemala"
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661:"Motagua: A river that rises in Guatemala and is threatened in Honduras"
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and non-government organizations to ensure safe water and clean oceans.
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The river runs in a valley that has the only known source of jadeitite
343:
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21:
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659:
Rodríguez, Jorge; Carbajal, Richard; Colindres, Misael (2022-04-22).
634:"Rural young feminists defend Motagua River through artivism – GAGGA"
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331:
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73:
1186:"A river of plastic: How 4ocean plans to clean up the Motagua River"
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913:"Trails of Cultures: Trade Routes Connected Ancient Central America"
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Pollution is reported to have first affected the river in 2003 when
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821:"Seismicity and seismically active faulting of Guatemala: A review"
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428:
77:
54:
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16:"Motagua" redirects here. For the association football club, see
1274:"Motagua River basin: Vital resource for Guatemala and Honduras"
963:
Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association
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539:
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415:
686:"The Arbitration of the Guatemalan-Honduran Boundary Dispute"
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39:
1211:"Guatemala Is Using 'Bio-Fences' to Curb Plastic Pollution"
658:
434:
The river was also an important commerce route during the
1112:
Cheatham, Shea; Fernández, Rodrigo; Ruiz, Carlos (2022).
385:. The Motagua fault has been the source of several major
1233:
1111:
818:
1234:Alvarez Murillo, Isabel; Alvarez, Lourdes (2023).
1577:
819:Guzmán-Speziale, Marco; Molina, Enrique (2022).
578:, Río Animas, Río Chiquito, Río Nuevo o Cacao
1308:
330:The Motagua River valley contains sources of
1012:"Pollution Crisis Strikes Guatemalan Rivers"
509:As the pollution from the river reaches the
488:The river is highly polluted with untreated
1208:
597:
595:
593:
591:
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1301:
53:
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796:"Geotimes - August 2002 - Guatemala Jade"
319:and runs in an easterly direction to the
1268:Jade sources in The Motagua River Valley
1016:Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
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825:Journal of South American Earth Sciences
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369:The Motagua River valley also marks the
307:) is a 486-kilometre-long (302 mi)
284:208.7 m/s (7,370 cu ft/s)
910:
533:Stockholm International Water Institute
315:. It rises in the Western Highlands of
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262:12,670 km (4,890 sq mi)
1601:International rivers of North America
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1209:Sánchez, Erica; Maes, Sophie (2018).
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878:"Re-Discovery of Olmec Blue Jade"
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1127:10.3390/environsciproc2022015064
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254:486.55 km (302.33 mi)
27:River in Guatemala and Honduras
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538:Conservation projects such as
334:, which has been used by many
203: • coordinates
104: • coordinates
1:
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84:Physical characteristics
44:The Motagua River during the
1120:. Vol. 15. p. 64.
1066:Environmental Earth Sciences
845:10.1016/j.jsames.2022.103740
492:, industrial waste, tons of
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446:
358:and contains seven distinct
242: • elevation
147:1,800 m (5,900 ft)
143: • elevation
7:
989:"Time of Kings and Queens."
957:Rochette, Erick T. (2009).
504:
191: • location
10:
1627:
1086:10.1007/s12665-021-09505-w
1010:Orellana, Claudia (2003).
882:Houston Geological Society
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280: • average
20:. Not to be confused with
15:
1606:Guatemala–Honduras border
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742:Marine Pollution Bulletin
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1596:Geography of Mesoamerica
794:Reed, Christina (2002).
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387:earthquakes in Guatemala
987:Sharer, Robert. (2012)
665:Historias Sin Fronteras
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356:Guatemala’s departments
164:Baja Verapaz Department
1454:Sico Tinto Negro River
942:New York Times (1923-)
911:Benitez, Alex (2013).
684:Fisher, F. C. (1933).
515:marine protected areas
460:from a power plant in
300:Spanish pronunciation:
464:was carried down the
399:(jade) in Mesoamerica
225:15.72472°N 88.22167°W
126:14.94917°N 91.00889°W
1156:Slat, Boyan (2022).
992:Expedition Magazine.
246:0 m (0 ft)
1586:Rivers of Guatemala
1078:2021EES....80..196G
1028:2003FrEE....1...63O
837:2022JSAES.11503740G
754:2020MarPB.15611220M
603:"RIOS DE GUATEMALA"
572:Río Grande o Zapaca
483:Guatemalan Congress
230:15.72472; -88.22167
221: /
131:14.94917; -91.00889
122: /
1591:Rivers of Honduras
304:[moˈtaɣwa]
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340:plastic pollution
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33:Motagua River
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1535:Guarajambala
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18:F.C. Motagua
997:(1): 26-35.
550:Tributaries
470:tributaries
441:Mesoamerica
228: /
129: /
1580:Categories
1449:Rio Blanco
1429:Papaloteca
1349:Chamelecón
1323:Rivers of
1245:2023-04-23
1220:2023-04-23
1195:2023-04-02
1167:2023-04-25
1072:(5): 196.
922:2023-04-03
888:2023-03-27
831:: 103740.
805:2023-04-12
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670:2023-04-03
640:2023-04-05
612:2022-04-30
582:References
560:Río Cocoyá
498:blackwater
360:ecoregions
344:government
336:Indigenous
259:Basin size
216:88°13′18″W
213:15°43′29″N
160:2nd source
117:91°00′32″W
114:14°56′57″N
46:dry season
1555:Río Negro
1530:Goascorán
1525:Choluteca
1369:Guayambre
1344:Cangrejal
1118:ICSD 2021
1094:232067091
1022:(2): 63.
861:246740088
853:0895-9811
778:218504601
718:147670425
607:INSIVUMEH
576:Río Bobos
511:Caribbean
447:Pollution
406:geologist
332:jadeitite
325:Guatemala
317:Guatemala
313:Guatemala
271:Discharge
74:Guatemala
70:Countries
1394:Jicatuyo
1325:Honduras
1278:IW:Learn
770:32365004
540:4ocean’s
519:Honduras
505:Outcomes
494:sediment
429:Quirigua
403:American
381:and the
78:Honduras
65:Location
1550:Nacaome
1509:Yaguala
1504:Warunta
1444:Plátano
1439:Paulaya
1419:Nakunta
1414:Motagua
1404:Mocorón
1379:Higuito
1374:Guayape
1284:1 April
1074:Bibcode
1044:3868029
1024:Bibcode
833:Bibcode
750:Bibcode
710:2189971
452:History
393:History
182:in the
22:Mataguá
1565:Torola
1560:Sumpul
1484:Telica
1474:Talgua
1469:Sulaco
1434:Patuca
1384:Humuya
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416:Olmecs
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93:Source
1545:Mocal
1540:Lempa
1499:Wampú
1489:Tinto
1464:Sigre
1424:Otoro
1409:Monda
1389:Jalan
1364:Cuero
1359:Cruta
1339:Aguán
1090:S2CID
1040:JSTOR
857:S2CID
774:S2CID
714:S2CID
706:JSTOR
566:Right
425:Copán
309:river
175:Mouth
1494:Ulúa
1479:Tela
1459:Sico
1399:Leán
1354:Coco
1286:2024
1240:SIWI
849:ISSN
766:PMID
555:Left
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