Río_de_la_Plata_(Puerto_Rico)
Río de la Plata (Puerto Rico)
River of Puerto Rico
The La Plata River (Spanish: Río de la Plata) is the longest river in Puerto Rico. It is located in the north coast of the island.[1] It flows from south to north, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean about 11 miles (18 km) west of San Juan. The mouth of the river is a resort area with white sandy beaches.[2][3]
La Plata has a length of approximately 74 kilometres (46 mi)[3] with its origin in the municipality of Guayama, Puerto Rico, at an altitude of approximately 2,625 feet (800 meters) above sea level. It crosses the municipalities of Guayama, Cayey, Comerío, Naranjito, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, and Dorado forming two lakes in its path: Carite Lake and La Plata Lake.[4][5][6]
There are many crossings of the river.[7] The Arenas Bridge, in Cayey, is one of the most notable. It is a steel bridge built in 1894 and is still in use. It was the longest bridge built in Puerto Rico by the Spanish.[8]: E-12 Another notable bridge that passes over the river is the Jesús Izcoa Moure bridge,[9] a cable-stayed bridge which straddles the city borders of Naranjito, Toa Alta and Bayamon.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking a major flood control project in the river basin.