Pastaza River
Encyclopedia
The Pastaza is a large tributary
to the Amazon River
.
It has its headwaters in the province of Tungurahua, where the Tambo River joins the Latacunga River, near the foot of the Volcano Tungurahua
, flowing south-east towards the Amazon Basin
. It is very shortly thereafter dammed by the Agoyan
hydroelectic project, which has made a large, silty lagoon just below the town of Baños
. The Agoyan dam was placed in that location specifically to leave the famous Falls of Agoyan, about 5 km further downstream, intact. In Tungurahua, the Pastaza is a very fast whitewater river with class-4 rapids; it is often used for whitewater rafting
although it is not considered to be of the same quality as the Tena River and is therefore less popular for the sport. The Troncal Amazonas highway parallels the river from Baños to Puyo
, passing through seven tunnels, and four major waterfalls that are touristic destinations for many Ecuadorians (Agoyan and Pailon del Diablo being the most popular.) Just past the town of Santa Inez, the Pastaza River crosses into the province of Pastaza, where it forms the boundary between that province and Morona-Santiago. There are no major fisheries on the Pastaza River - it is primarily used as a means of transport by canoe. Its rise and fall are rapid and uncertain, and it is shallow and full of sandbanks and snags. Flooding occurs seasonally. After cutting through Ecuador, the Pastaza passes into Peru at a point about 60 miles (96.6 km) west of the mouth of the Huallaga
.
.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
to the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
.
It has its headwaters in the province of Tungurahua, where the Tambo River joins the Latacunga River, near the foot of the Volcano Tungurahua
Tungurahua
Tungurahua, , rahua : "Throat of Fire" or from Panzaleo) is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of Tungurahua...
, flowing south-east towards the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
. It is very shortly thereafter dammed by the Agoyan
Agoyan
The Agoyan is the tallest waterfall of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is located approximately 7 km from the city of Baños. It is formed by the waters of the Pastaza river that plunge 61 meters in a gorge located in the Occidental Cordillera....
hydroelectic project, which has made a large, silty lagoon just below the town of Baños
Baños
Baños de Agua Santa , commonly referred to as Baños, is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province, in central Ecuador. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after Ambato, the capital, and is a major tourist center...
. The Agoyan dam was placed in that location specifically to leave the famous Falls of Agoyan, about 5 km further downstream, intact. In Tungurahua, the Pastaza is a very fast whitewater river with class-4 rapids; it is often used for whitewater rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
although it is not considered to be of the same quality as the Tena River and is therefore less popular for the sport. The Troncal Amazonas highway parallels the river from Baños to Puyo
Puyo
Puyo refers to;* Puyo, Pastaza, the capital of Pastaza, a province in Ecuador* Buyeo , or Puyo, an ancient Korean kingdom* Buyeo County, in South Korea* Puyo , a Japanese manga artist* Puyo Pop/Puyo Puyo, a Japanese video game...
, passing through seven tunnels, and four major waterfalls that are touristic destinations for many Ecuadorians (Agoyan and Pailon del Diablo being the most popular.) Just past the town of Santa Inez, the Pastaza River crosses into the province of Pastaza, where it forms the boundary between that province and Morona-Santiago. There are no major fisheries on the Pastaza River - it is primarily used as a means of transport by canoe. Its rise and fall are rapid and uncertain, and it is shallow and full of sandbanks and snags. Flooding occurs seasonally. After cutting through Ecuador, the Pastaza passes into Peru at a point about 60 miles (96.6 km) west of the mouth of the Huallaga
Huallaga River
The Huallaga River is a tributary of the Marañón River, part of the Amazon Basin. Old names for this river include Guallaga and Rio de los Motilones. The Huallaga is born on the slopes of the Andes in central Peru and joins the Marañón before the latter reaches the Ucayali River to form the Amazon....
.
Tributaries
The Pastaza has numerous tributaries, both above and below the hydroelectric dam. These contribute to its rapid flow and to its tendency to flood. On the highway side of the Pastaza, a tributary river occurs about every 3–4 km for a stretch of about 50 km; on the opposite bank, the number of tributaries is slightly lower. Major rivers, including the Pindo, the Puyo, and the Bobonaza, also feed the Pastaza.Bridges
In Ecuador, there are very few bridges across the Pastaza. The most significant ones are in Tungurahua province - namely a large span over the exact point of headwaters, just north of Baños, and the secondary span created by the Agoyan dam. After this, bridges tend to be of the suspension type, suitable for foot or small vehicle passage only. However, it is notable that the Pastaza can be forded during the dry season in a 4x4 truck, going across the floodplains below MeraMera
- Places :*Mera, Dhanbad, a town in India*Mera, Pastaza, a town in Ecuador*Shell Mera, Pastaza, a town in Ecuador*Méra, a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary*Mera, Vrancea, a commune in Romania*Mera , a village in Baciu Commune, Cluj County, Romania...
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