Lerma River

The Lerma River is in Mexico. It is a very long river. It starts on a high plateau. Then it flows into a big lake. This lake is called Lake Chapala.

Many fish live in the water. Some fish are found only there. There are many kinds of fish. Some are tiny and some are large.

Farmers use the water to grow food. This helps the plants stay green. The river is very important for them.

People also use the water for their homes. It helps many cities have water. This is a big job for the river.

In the past, the water was dirty. Now, people work to clean it up. The water is getting better.

The Lerma River is in west-central Mexico. It is the seventh longest river in the country. The river starts on a high plateau. It flows past several states like Guanajuato and Michoacán. Finally, it ends at Lake Chapala. This is the largest lake in Mexico. Some people say the river continues through the lake. They call the next part the Río Grande de Santiago.

This river is very important for many people. Many farmers use the water to grow crops. The river helps irrigate about 820,000 hectares of land. It also provides water for big cities like Toluca. Over nine million people live in the area near the river.

Many types of fish live in these waters. There are more than 100 kinds of native fish. Some fish, like the Evarra chub, are already extinct. This means they do not live in the wild anymore.

In the past, the river had many pollution problems. Waste from cities and factories made the water dirty. This was very bad for the fish and the people. Now, the government has new plans to clean the water. They are building new plants to treat the waste. This helps make the water better for everyone.

The Lerma River is a very important waterway in west-central Mexico. It is the seventh longest river in the whole country. The river begins high up on the Mexican Plateau. It starts at the Lerma lagoons near a place called Almoloya del Río. These lagoons get their water from natural springs. These springs come from volcanic rocks near the Monte de Las Cruces. From there, the river flows toward Lake Chapala. This lake is the largest lake in Mexico. Some people think the river keeps going through the lake. They call that next part the Río Grande de Santiago.

The river follows a long and winding path. It is about 700 kilometers long. It flows through several different states. It forms a short border between Querétaro and Michoacán. Then it moves through the state of Guanajuato. The river also separates Michoacán from Jalisco. Finally, it flows into Lake Chapala near the town of La Barca. The water in the lake sits at 1,525 meters above sea level.

This river has a very long history. During the 1600s and 1700s, large farms called haciendas were built along the water. One famous place was the Atenco Ranch. This ranch was started with bulls that belonged to Hernán Cortés. People say these bulls were some of the best for bullfighting. Today, many different places sit near the river. You can find busy cities like Lerma and San Mateo Atenco. There are also small, pretty villages like Malinalco.

Many living things depend on this river system. It is home to more than 100 kinds of native fish. Some fish, like the Evarra chub, are already extinct. This means they are gone forever. There are also four special types of crayfish that live only in this area. The river is very helpful for farmers too. It helps water about 820,000 hectares of land for crops. About 52,125 of the farmers in this area are small farmers.

For a long time, the river had many pollution problems. Waste from cities and factories went into the water. This made the water quality very poor in the late 1980s. In 2005, many fish died in a place called Pénjamo because there was not enough oxygen. However, things are starting to change. The government started programs to clean the water. They built many plants to treat waste. In 1997, most of the water in Lake Chapala was considered good quality.

The Lerma River is a vital waterway located in west-central Mexico. It ranks as the seventh longest river in the nation. This river is part of a massive watershed that includes Lake Chapala. The federal government considers the Lerma-Lake Chapala basin the most important watershed in Mexico. When combined with the Río Grande de Santiago, it forms the largest river system in the country. The system begins on the Mexican Plateau and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean through the Santiago river.

The river's journey begins at the Lerma lagoons near Almoloya del Río. These lagoons are located southeast of the city of Toluca. The water in these lagoons comes from natural springs. These springs rise from basaltic volcanics, which are volcanic rocks. These rocks flow down from the Monte de Las Cruces. This area sits between the Valley of Toluca and the Basin of Mexico. From these lagoons, the river flows a distance of about 700 kilometers. It winds through several Mexican states.

The river's path creates several borders between states. It forms a short border between Querétaro and Michoacán. Later, it flows west-northwest through the state of Guanajuato. The river then turns southward to separate Guanajuato from Michoacán. It also acts as a border between Michoacán and Jalisco. Finally, the river flows west-southwest of La Barca to empty into Lake Chapala. The water in Lake Chapala sits at 1,525 meters above sea level. Some people view the Río Grande de Santiago as a continuation of the Lerma River.

History and human settlement are deeply tied to this river. During the 17th and 18th centuries, large estates called haciendas were established along its banks. One notable example is the Atenco Ranch. This ranch was founded with bulls that belonged to Hernán Cortés. These bulls are considered some of the finest stock for bullfighting. Today, the river is surrounded by diverse locations. These include cities like Lerma and San Mateo Atenco. It also includes picturesque villages with cultural significance, such as Malinalco.

The river system is essential for agriculture and human life. While the river is not navigable by water craft, it is critical for irrigation. Currently, the river irrigates 820,000 hectares of land. An estimated three million hectares are used for agricultural production. Most of the people farming here are small farmers. Specifically, 52,125 out of 78,000 farmers in the watershed are classified as small. The river also provides municipal water for the Guadalajara and Toluca metropolitan areas. However, rural areas often face chronic problems accessing potable water from the river or its aquifers.

This basin supports a very rich ecology with many unique species. It is home to more than 100 native fish species and 19 introduced species. The most diverse native families are the splitfins and Neotropical silversides. Each of these families makes up about 10% of the native species. Other groups include poeciliids and cyprinids. Many species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else. Examples include various Chirostoma silversides and Algansea chubs. Sadly, some species like the Evarra chubs are already extinct. The area also hosts four endemic species of cambarid crayfish.

Pollution has been a major challenge for the Lerma River. Most pollution comes from discharging untreated or under-treated wastewater. Many industries operate in this area. These include meat, dairy, beverage, and chemical production plants. In the late 1980s, uncoordinated water policies made the situation worse. This failed to regulate water use among competing interests. In the 1990s, government programs helped improve water quality. By 1997, 45 treatment plants were operating with 70% efficiency. However, contamination levels became alarming again in the decade starting in 2000. In 2005, a sudden loss of oxygen caused thousands of fish to die in Pénjamo.