Torca River

The Torca River (Spanish: Río Torca) is a river on the Bogotá savanna and a left tributary of the Bogotá River. The river, in a basin of 6,008.69 hectares (23.1997 sq mi), originates in the Eastern Hills of Bogotá at an altitude of 2,837 metres (9,308 ft). It flows in the north of the Colombian capital, through the locality of Usaquén and into the Bogotá River in Suba at the border with Chía, at 2,545 metres (8,350 ft) above sea level. The Torca wetland is located near its mouth.

Torca River
The Torca River originates near the quarry in the Eastern Hills
Location of the Torca River in Colombia
EtymologyMuysccubun
Native nameRío Torca  (Spanish)
Location
CountryColombia
DepartmentCundinamarca
Municipalities
Localities
Physical characteristics
SourceEastern Hills
 • locationUsaquén
 • coordinates4°43′38.8″N 74°01′01.5″W
 • elevation2,837 m (9,308 ft)
MouthBogotá River
 • location
Suba, Chía
 • coordinates
4°49′58.8″N 74°02′38.6″W
 • elevation
2,545 m (8,350 ft)
Basin size6,008.69 ha (23.1997 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemBogotá River
 Magdalena Basin
  Caribbean Sea
WaterbodiesTorca (wetland)
BridgesAutopista Norte

Description
source
mouth
Source and mouth of the Torca River on the Bogotá savanna

The Torca River originates in the Eastern Hills, in the locality of Usaquén in the north of the Colombian capital. The river enters the urban area of the city near the Bosques de Pinos complex at Carrera 6 with Calle 153. The basin of the Torca River has an area of 6,008.69 hectares (23.1997 sq mi) and along the principal axis the basin extends for 13.06 kilometres (8.12 mi).[1] Part of its course is channelised, called El Cedro and Torca channel.[2] The Torca River flows into the Bogotá River near the Torca wetland at the border of Bogotá and Chía.[3] The Autopista Norte crosses the Torca River basin. The river has a high level of contamination.[4]

Wetland
Main article: Wetlands of Bogotá

The 24 hectares (0.093 sq mi) wetland of Torca is located in the Torca River basin.[5] Amphibians registered in Torca are among others the green dotted treefrog (Hyla labialis) and the cream-backed poison frog (Colostethus subpunctatus).[6] In Torca, 24 bird species have been registered,[7] among others the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Bogotá rail (Rallus semiplumbeus), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), noble snipe (Gallinago nobilis), solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria), grassland yellow finch (Sicalis luteola) and the endemic species to Colombia, yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus).[8] The flora species Carex lanuginosa was a new discovery in the Torca wetland.[9]

mouth
source
Torca within the Torca River basin

See also

References
  1. Pérez & Zamora, 2015, p.19
  2. Poloche Rojas, 2015, p.5
  3. Poloche Rojas, 2015, p.7
  4. Pérez Preciado, 2000, p.29
  5. Humedal Torca
  6. (in Spanish) Historia de los Humedales
  7. Andrade & Benitez, s.a., p.11
  8. Ramírez et al., 2013, p.472
  9. Calvachi Zambrano, 2002, p.93

Bibliography

Further reading
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