Chixoy River

{{Infobox river | name = Chixoy River | name_native = {{native name|es|Río Chixoy}} | name_other = Río Negro, Río Chixoy, Salinas River | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | source1_location = Quiché Department, Guatemala | mouth_location = Confluence of Usumacinta River and Pasión River | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Guatemala | length = | source1_elevation = {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}} | source1_coordinates= {{coord|14.985389|N|91.219165|W}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|160|m|ft|abbr=on}} | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|16.481060|N|90.543121|W|display=inline,title}} | discharge1_avg = {{convert|551|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<br />at San Agustín Chixoy | basin_size_km2 = 12150 | basin_size_ref = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/hidrologia/rios%20de%20guate.htm | publisher= | title=Principales ríos de Guatemala | author=INSIVUMEH |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220050656/http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/riosdeguatemala.html |archive-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> }} The '''Chixoy River''' or '''Río Chixoy''' is a river in Guatemala. The river is called the Río Negro from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam (located at {{coord|15.281536|-90.490952|type:landmark_region:GT|name=Chixoy Hidroelectric Dam}}), where the Río Salamá and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro. After the Chixoy dam, the river is called Río Chixoy and flows northwards, marking the departmental limits between Alta Verapaz and El Quiché, until it reaches the border with Mexico. It continues along the border for another {{convert|113|km|mi}} as the Salinas River until it finally converges with the Pasión River (at {{coord|16.481193|-90.544167|type:landmark_region:GT|name=Convergence Salinas and Pasión rivers}}) to form the Usumacinta River which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Chixoy river's water discharge of {{convert|551|m3/s|cuft/s}} is Guatemala's highest. This was one of the main reasons for selecting this river for the construction of the Chixoy Hydroelectric dam. Guatemala's National Institute for Electricity (INDE) is planning the construction of another hydroelectric dam on the Chixoy river. The proposed location of the Xalalá hydroelectric dam is situated at {{coord|15.692833|-90.786361|type:landmark_region:GT|name=Planned location Xalalá Hidroelectric Dam}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.inde.gob.gt/Portal/Entities/Admin/ViewImgLinks.aspx?ItemID=317 | title=Proyecto Hidroeléctrico Xalalá | author=INDE | access-date=2009-02-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213120718/http://www.inde.gob.gt/Portal/Entities/Admin/ViewImgLinks.aspx?ItemID=317 | archive-date=2009-02-13 | url-status=dead }}</ref> in the municipality of Ixcán, El Quiché.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205926/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/guatemala_pol00.jpg Map of Guatemala including the river]

Chixoy Category:Geography of Guatemala Category:Usumacinta River