Los Esclavos River
{{Infobox river
| name = Río Los Esclavos
| image = Puente Los Esclavos, Old Bridge in Guatemala.jpg
| image_caption = Bridge over Los Esclavos river
| pushpin_map = Guatemala
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of mouth
| source1_location = Mataquescuintla (Santa Rosa)
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|14|28|28|N|90|14|35|W|region:GT|name=Sources of the Río Los Esclavos}}
| mouth_location = Laguna de Sipacate
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|13|50|20|N|90|19|46|W|region:GT|name=Mouth of the Río Los Esclavos|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Guatemala
| length = {{convert|145|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|15.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} (La Sonrisa)
| basin_size = Pacific
}}
The Río Los Esclavos is a river in southern Guatemala. Its sources are in the mountains in the southeast of the department of Santa Rosa. From there it flows past the town of Cuilapa through the coastal plains of Santa Rosa into the Laguna de Sipacate and then into the Pacific Ocean.{{cite web | url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/hidrologia/ATLAS_HIDROMETEOROLOGICO/Atlas_Hidrologico/mapa-base.jpg | publisher= | title=Mapa de Cuencas y Ríos | author=INSIVUMEH | format=}}
The Los Esclavos river basin covers a territory of 2,271 km2 (877 sq ml).{{cite web | url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/hidrologia/rios%20de%20guate.htm | publisher= | title=Principales ríos de Guatemala | author=INSIVUMEH }}
Bridge
A bridge was built over this river during the Spanish Colony, thanks to the initiative of Baltazar de Orena{{cite journal|author=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|title=Nuestro grabados:El puente sobre el Río de los Esclavos|language=Spanish|url=https://archive.org/stream/ilustracionguate00guat#page/400/mode/2up|journal=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|date=1 April 1897|volume=I|issue=18|publisher=Síguere, Guirola y Cía|quote=Baltazar de Orena was a Spanish poet, friend of Miguel de Cervantes.}} from Valle Town Hall and governor Pedro Mayen de la Rueda, who proposed its construction in 1579. The bridge was completed in 1592 under the director of architects Francisco Tirado and Diego Felipe. Years later, some repair were needed, and criollo poet and leader Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzmán was in charge of the work.{{cite journal|author=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|title=Nuestro grabados:El puente sobre el Río de los Esclavos|url=https://archive.org/stream/ilustracionguate00guat#page/400/mode/2up|journal=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|location=Guatemala|date=1 April 1897|quote=Fuentes y Guzmán was the author of La Recordación Florida, historical document about the Spanish Colony times in Guatemala.}}
Back in those days, all merchandise that came to Santiago de los Caballeros city, the capital city, came through Acajutla harbor, and the bridge was built to avoid the inconveniences that occurred whenever the river was too high. The bridge is {{convert|128|yd|m|order=flip}} long and {{convert|18|yd|m|order=flip}} across.La Ilustración Guatemalteca, p. 245 It was built above 11 arches and, after almost 500 years, still stands in spite of the strong current and the earthquakes and storms that have damaged the rest of Guatemalan infrastructure.
Gallery
- {{commons-inline|Category:Río Los Esclavos|Los Esclavos river}}
- {{commons-inline|Category:Puente Los Esclavos|Los Esclavos bridge}}
References
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Works cited and notes
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