Cagüitas River

Cagüitas River
Map
Native nameRío Cagüitas (Spanish)
Location
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
MunicipalityCaguas
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationErmita Cave in Sumidero, Aguas Buenas
Mouth 
 • location
Loíza River in Bairoa, Caguas
 • elevation
151 ft.
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightCañaboncito River

The Cagüitas River (Spanish: Río Cagüitas) is a tributary of the Loíza River that flows through the municipalities of Caguas and Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico.[1]

Geography

The Cagüitas River is one of the two main streams that traverse the Caguas Valley from west to east (the other being the Bairoa River), both of which emptying into the Loíza River.[2] Due to its hydrology, the river has played a critical role in the history of the agricultural development of the Valley of Caguas, particularly in the establishment of numerous sugarcane plantations throughout its course in the valley.[3]

The Cagüitas has its primary source in Cueva Ermita, one of the many caves that comprise the Aguas Buenas Cavern System.[4] From there it flows down to the Valley of Caguas, passing by Cerro Borrás and the Caguas Botanical Garden (the site of the former Hacienda San José sugarcane plantation) before reaching the area of Caguas Pueblo, where it is fed by the Cañaboncito River close to the former Hacienda Santa Catalina. It then flows into the Loíza River after passing the site of the former Hacienda Santa Juana.[5]

Ecology

In addition to its geological importance as part of the wider ecosystem of the Aguas Buenas Cave and Caverns System Nature Reserve, the Cagüitas River feeds into secondary forests that are critical for the conservation of the Puerto Rican plain pigeon (Patagioenas inornata wetmorei).[6] In recent years, the Cagüitas and many other similar rivers in the island have suffered from the effects of the invasive pleco (particularly Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus), as their populations have greatly increased since they do not have any natural predators in Puerto Rico.[7][8]

Recreation

In addition to the William Miranda Marín Botanical and Cultural Garden, which the Cagüitas crosses from west to east, the municipality also established Paseo Honor al Río, a boardwalk with public art and gazebos that stretches along the river from Plaza Cagüitas, close to Caguas Pueblo, to Plaza Centro.[9] There are plans to extend the boardwalk by connecting it to the botanical garden itself.[10]

See also

18°15′31″N 66°00′48″W / 18.2585651°N 66.0132205°W / 18.2585651; -66.0132205[11]

References

  1. ^ U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4079 (1993). "Ground-water Resources of the Caguas-Juncos Valley, Puerto Rico" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Municipio de Caguas – EnciclopediaPR". Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  3. ^ "Sistema de Cuevas de Aguas Buenas". www.relcomlatinoamerica.net (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. ^ Municipio de Caguas. (2021, February 11). Caguas Approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP 210211). Retrieved from https://jp.pr.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Cagu-Approved-HMP-210211-with-certification-1.pdf
  5. ^ Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA). (2005, July). Coastal Waters Assessment [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.drna.pr.gov/historico/oficinas/arn/recursosvivientes/costasreservasrefugios/pmzc/publicaciones/CWA_July2005.pdf
  6. ^ Guemárez Soto, Andrea (2024-08-01). "De las peceras a los ríos: el "plecostomus" invade los cuerpos de agua dulce en Puerto Rico". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  7. ^ "Pez pleco: preocupación por nueva especie invasora en Puerto Rico". Telemundo Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  8. ^ "Paseo Honor al Río". VisitaCaguas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  9. ^ Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Municipio Autónomo de Caguas. (2015, June 12). Revisión Integral del Plan Territorial: Programa (Programa para Vista Pública). Retrieved from https://caguas.gov.pr/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Programa-8-de-junio-de-2015-MAC.pdf
  10. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Río Cagüitas


allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caguitas_River