Patuca River
Encyclopedia
The Patuca is a river
in northeastern Honduras
, formed southeast of Juticalpa by the merger of the Guayape and Guayambre rivers. It is the second largest river in Central America.
The river flows to the northeast for approximately 10 miles before crossing the Mosquito Coast
, and flowing into the Caribbean Sea
at Patuca Point.
It was the proposed site of a major hydroelectric power project. However as of May 1999 the hydroelectric project was placed on indefinite hold due to environmental concerns. The proposed development involved flooding 42 km of intact rain forest, all of which was on the legislative track to either become part of the Patuca National Park or the Tawahka Biosphere Reserve "Asagni."
The Patuca is infamous within Honduras for a section of rapids known as "El Portal del Infierno" or "The Gates of Hell" which are known to have killed many a reckless river-goer.
At floodstage the Patuca can reach several miles in width. Indeed, its tributary Guayape
is known to exceed 2 miles in width nearly every year in areas that can be waded waist-deep in the dry season.
The Patuca is also well known for its lawless nether regions where small heavily armed groups of men dredge vast placer gold deposits in the areas up-river from the Mosquitia jungle.
The Patuca River was featured in the Douglas Preston
book The Codex
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in northeastern Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, formed southeast of Juticalpa by the merger of the Guayape and Guayambre rivers. It is the second largest river in Central America.
The river flows to the northeast for approximately 10 miles before crossing the Mosquito Coast
Mosquito Coast
The Caribbean Mosquito Coast historically consisted of an area along the Atlantic coast of present-day Nicaragua and Honduras, and part of the Western Caribbean Zone. It was named after the local Miskito Indians and long dominated by British interests...
, and flowing into the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
at Patuca Point.
It was the proposed site of a major hydroelectric power project. However as of May 1999 the hydroelectric project was placed on indefinite hold due to environmental concerns. The proposed development involved flooding 42 km of intact rain forest, all of which was on the legislative track to either become part of the Patuca National Park or the Tawahka Biosphere Reserve "Asagni."
The Patuca is infamous within Honduras for a section of rapids known as "El Portal del Infierno" or "The Gates of Hell" which are known to have killed many a reckless river-goer.
At floodstage the Patuca can reach several miles in width. Indeed, its tributary Guayape
Guayape
Guayape is a municipality in the west of the Honduran department of Olancho, west of Salamá, south of Yocón and north of Concordia.Guayape, Is Divided Into Three Huge Territories.Some even covering the river....
is known to exceed 2 miles in width nearly every year in areas that can be waded waist-deep in the dry season.
The Patuca is also well known for its lawless nether regions where small heavily armed groups of men dredge vast placer gold deposits in the areas up-river from the Mosquitia jungle.
The Patuca River was featured in the Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston is an American author who has written seventeen popular techno-thriller and horror novels, four alone and the rest with Lincoln Child...
book The Codex
The Codex (novel)
The Codex is a 2004 novel by Douglas Preston and takes place in the Southwestern United States and Central America.The main story is about Max Broadbent, who is an eccentric rich man with terminal cancer, who likes to collect valuable art and treasures...
.