Canóvanas River

Canóvanas River
Canóvanas River from the Villarán Bridge
Native nameRío Canóvanas (Spanish)
Location
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
MunicipalityCanóvanas, Loíza, Río Grande
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationEl Toro in Guzmán Arriba, Río Grande
Mouth 
 • location
Loíza River in Canóvanas Pueblo, Canóvanas
 • coordinates
18°23′31″N 65°54′47″W / 18.3918928°N 65.9129424°W / 18.3918928; -65.9129424[1]
 • elevation
10 ft.
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftCubuy River
WaterfallsLos Pilones

The Canóvanas River (Spanish: Río Canóvanas) is a tributary of the Loíza River (Río Grande de Loíza) that flows through the municipalities of Canóvanas and Río Grande, Puerto Rico.[2]

Geography

The Canóvanas River is one of the primary tributaries of the Loíza River within the northern plains geographical region of Puerto Rico. Its headwaters originate on the northern slope of El Toro massif of the Sierra de Luquillo, within the boundaries of barrio Guzmán Arriba of Río Grande. These headwaters are protected as part of El Yunque National Forest, particularly within El Toro Wilderness.[3] The river then flows northward, splitting the municipality of Canóvanas in half as it flows to the lower valley of the Loíza River. Its mouth lies just north of Canóvanas Pueblo, close to the former sugarcane plantation and refinery of Central Canóvanas.[2]

Recreation

There are numerous popular swimming areas along the river, for example, Charco Los Pilones and Charco de los Caballos are located in an area of stream pools (charco) located in the Lomas and Hato Puerco barrios of Canóvanas.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Río Canóvanas
  2. ^ a b Municipio de Canóvanas. (August 6, 2021). Canóvanas Approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (Final HMP) (Approved: August 6, 2021). Retrieved September 8, 2025, from https://jp.pr.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CANO-Plan-FinalHMP.pdf
  3. ^ USDA, Forest Service. "El Toro Wilderness".
  4. ^ Gwenn. "Los Pilones Falls and Charco de los Caballos in Canovanas". www.puertoricodaytrips.com. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  • Media related to Río Canóvanas at Wikimedia Commons
  • USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region (1974)
  • Ríos de Puerto Rico (in Spanish)