Did you know that it is home to the only river in the world that has access to two oceans? Latin America? This tributary flows into both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is popularly known as “River of Lizards” due to the significant number of crocodiles and alligators that live on its banks and roam its waters.
This tributary is crucial for the local population and the Central American country in which it lies, as it represents a means of communication with foreign countries and its waters are used for various purposes by the population of its banks.
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What is the only river in the world that flows into two oceans?
He Chagres River It is the only one in the world that has access to two oceans. Located in Panama, it is characterized by flowing into the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It reaches the latter because in its course is the Gatún Dam, which directs its water to Lake Gatún, the same lake that flows into the Panama Canal.
It should be noted that Lake Gatún was created between 1903 and 1913 by damming the Chagres River through the Gatún Dam. This is the main reason why the “river of lizards” is considered biooceanic.
The Chagres River is characterized by the fact that crocodiles and alligators live there. Photo: Lacabanga
What is the history of the Chagres River?
Over the years, the river received two main nominations. When Christopher Columbus first saw the tributary on one of his expeditions, he called it the “river of lizards” when he noticed the presence of these animals on its banks.
However, between 1514 and 1515, Diego de Albitez explored the area and named the tributary as winds, as a tribute to the chief who lived near the torrent. Later the term was popularized as Chagres with an “s.”
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What are the characteristics of the Chagres River?
The famous Chagres River is 125 kilometers long. It runs from the San Blas Mountains northwest of the city through dense, still lush jungle and is dammed in the artificial Gatún reservoir, which flows into its lake 27 meters above sea level. It is vital to the Panama Canal.
Apart from this last body of water, the fluid flows that allows the canal locks to operate on both sides. For this reason, the Chagres flows into the Pacific and the Atlantic: a world exclusive.
Throughout its history, this river has presented certain problems. There have not been such severe droughts in the past. However, this has not prevented thousands of large ships from passing through its waters in the last century to shorten sea distances.