The Rio Grande de Mindanao, also known as the Mindanao River, is the second-largest river system in the Philippines. Located on the southern island of Mindanao, with a total drainage area of 23,169 km² (8,946 sq mi),^[2] draining the majority of the central and eastern portion of the island, and a total length of approximately 373 km (232 mi).^[1][3] It is an important transportation artery, used mainly in transporting agricultural products and, formerly, timber.

Quick Facts Rio Grande de Mindanao, Location ...

Rio Grande de Mindanao Mindanao River Tamontaka River Cotabato River Pulangi River
Drainage map of Mindanao River
Mindanao River mouth Show map of Mindanao Rio Grande de Mindanao (Philippines) Show map of Philippines
Location
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao Soccsksargen BARMM
Province	Bukidnon Maguindanao Cotabato
Cities	Malaybalay Valencia Kidapawan Koronadal Cotabato City
Physical characteristics
Source	Kitanglad Mountain Range
• location	Brgy. Kalabugao, Impasugong, Bukidnon
• coordinates	8°27′15″N 125°09′46″E
Mouth	Illana Bay
• location	Cotabato City
• coordinates	7°15′20″N 124°12′0″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	373 km (232 mi)[1]
Basin size	23,169 km2 (8,946 sq mi)[2]
Discharge
• average	1,400 m3/s (49,000 cu ft/s)
• maximum	3,000 m3/s (110,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Allah River Buluan River Kabulnan River
• right	Pulangi River M'lang River Simuay River

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Its headwaters are in the mountains of Impasugong, Bukidnon, south of Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, where it is called the Pulangi River. Joining the Kabacan River, it becomes the Mindanao River. Flowing out of the mountains, it forms the center of a broad, fertile plain in the southcentral portion of the island. Before its mouth in Illana Bay, it splits into two parallel sections, the Cotabato and Tamontaka, separated by a 180 m (590 ft) hill.

Population centers along the river include Cotabato City, Datu Piang and Midsayap.

The Rio Grande de Mindanao has its source in the Central Mindanao Highlands near the northern coast of the island, specifically on the northeastern part of the province of Bukidnon, where it is known as the Pulangi River. It then flows southward across the Bukidnon Plateau, fed up by its tributaries along the way and then emerges onto the Cotabato plains, depositing fertile mountain silt as it widens and arcs westward through the Cotabato River Basin. It finally empties into Illana Bay at its mouth at Cotabato City.

As the Mindanao River meets Illana Bay, it branches out into two distributaries, the Cotabato in the north and the Tamontaka in the south at Cotabato City.

Rio Grande de Mindanao River List of tributaries by length.

The river has recently been clogged with water hyacinths, causing it to overflow after days of heavy rain. Floodwaters submerged at least 37 villages in Cotabato City alone and displaced some 6,000 families.

President Benigno Aquino III ordered public works and military personnel to clear the river of up to 20 hectares (0.20 km²) of water lily growth.^[4]