Balsas River Mezcala River, Atoyac River | |
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![]() Balsas River | |
![]() Major rivers of Mexico, with Balsas in the southwest | |
Location | |
Country | Mexico |
State | Michoacán |
Physical characteristics | |
Mouth | |
• location | Mangrove Point, Pacific Ocean |
Length | 771 kilometers (479 mi) |
Basin features | |
River system | Confluence of the San Martín River and Zahuapan River |
The Balsas River (Spanish Río Balsas, also locally known as the Mezcala River, or Atoyac River) is a major river of south-central Mexico.
The basin flows through the states of Guerrero, México, Morelos, and Puebla. Downstream of Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, it forms the border between Guerrero and Michoacán.[1] The river flows through the Sierra Madre del Sur, and empties into the Pacific Ocean at Mangrove Point, adjacent to the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.[2][3] Several rapids along the course of the Balsas River limit its navigability and thus the river has been largely used for generation of hydroelectric power, flood control and irrigation.[2]