Portugués River
Encyclopedia
Río Portugués also known as Río Tibes, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
. The river has a length of almost 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) and runs south from the Cordillera Central
mountain range into the Caribbean Sea
. The Portugues is one of the best-known rivers in Ponce because of its prominent zig-zagging through the city and its historical significance. The river is historically significant because the city of Ponce had its origins on its banks. Its old name was Río Baramaya. The river has its mouth at 17°58'51" North, 66°37'26" West. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.
Portugués in the bordering municipality of Adjuntas
, just north of Ponce
, and drains into the Caribbean Sea
after running for some 27.6 kilometres (17.1 mi). The river has a discharge of 16,000 cubic feet per second.
. In the sectors and sub-barrio
s that it traverses, the locals call the river by the name of such sector/barrio: thus names such as Río Cedro, Río Nuez, Río Moscada, and Río Tibes as the unofficial local name of Portugues in the sectors known as Cedro, Nuez, Moscada and Tibes
.
. The river then runs in a southernly direction parallel to PR-10 for most of its trajectory, crossing barrios Guaraguao
, San Patricio
, and Tibes
. It brushes barrio Machuelo Arriba
on its southwestern corner after it crosses PR-10 just west of the intersection of PR-10 and PR-504, just north of the Ponce city limits. From there it enters barrio Machuelo Abajo
and continues south crossing Avenida Betances/Avenida Tito Castro (PR-14), at a point about half a mile west of the intersection of routes PR-12 and PR-14. A few hundred feet before the Avenida Betances Río Portugues bridge, in the city of Ponce, the river divides barrios Sexto
, located west of the river, and Machuelo Abajo
, to the east. It continues south crossing Calle Guadalupe, at which point it divides barrio Quinto
to the west and Machuelo Abajo to the east. This point is just west of Club Deportivo de Ponce. Several hundred feet further downstream, at Miguel Pou Boulevard–PR-1
and Puentes de los Leones–Tricentennial Park
, the river divides barrios Tercero
and San Anton
. Further downstream, the river comes to pass by La Ceiba Park on Calle Comercio (route PR-133) in sector Cuatro Calles. After crossing Calle Comercio, the river divides barrios Cuarto
and San Anton
, and continues its southernly course towards Avenida Las Americas (PR-163).
immediately east of the intersection of Avenida Hostos and Ponce Bypass/PR-2
, at the sector called "Caracoles". From there the river used to continue flowing southernly, at one point just edging Plaza del Caribe
. This old course then took a sharp westernly turn to cross Avenida Hostos. From this point it continued flowing south-southwesternly where it (now, since the newly built PR-52) crossed PR-52. From here the river flowed another one mile (1.6 km) crossing the low-lying area of Barrio La Playa at Avenida Padre Noel before draining into the Caribbean Sea about 30 or 40 yards from Avenida Padre Noel, in the area called "Villa Pesquera."
From Avenida Las Americas the river now flows in a south-southeasterly after crossing Avenida Las Americas about a quarter of a mile east of Hospital Dr. Pila
. After crossing Avenida Las Americas in downtown Ponce, the river comes to the location where in the 1970s it was diverted by the US Corps of Engineers from a southwesterly path to its current southeasterly path. Taking a sharp easterly turn, it enters barrio San Anton, and crosses north-and-south-bound route PR-12/Avenida Malecon about one quarter of a mile north of PR-12's intersection with PR-2
. Shortly thereafter the river crosses east-and-west-bound route PR-2, about one quarter of a mile east of PR-2's intersection with PR-12. The river then borders the Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park
on the park's western edge until it feeds into Río Bucaná
about half a mile south of PR-2.
and divides barrios Playa (Ponce)
on its western bank and barrio Bucana
on its eastern bank. From there the rivers flow southernly as a single stream for half-mile, crossing Autopista Luis A. Ferre/PR-52. Another one mile (1.6 km) of southernly flow and the river empties as a single stream into the Caribbean Sea just east of La Guancha
, safely avoiding most populated areas.
for Río Portugues about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Ponce. Construction began in April 2008 and, when finished, the dam will be the first roller-compacted concrete thick arch dam built anywhere in U.S. soil by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Cerrillos Dam over Río Cerrillos
was finished in 1992, and had also been approved by Congress in 1986. The cost to built the Portugues Dam is over $192 million.
The dam will consist of a dike of 220 feet high by 1,230 feet wide. It will use 368,000 cubic yards of compressed concrete. As of 22 March 2009, 88 percent of the concrete work had been completed. Its completion date is 2013. The total investment is $375 million USD.
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Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. The river has a length of almost 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) and runs south from the Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central
The Cordillera Central, meaning central range in Spanish, is used to refer to several mountain ranges around the world:* Cordillera Central, Andes , several mountain ranges in South America** Cordillera Central, Colombia...
mountain range 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....
. The Portugues is one of the best-known rivers in Ponce because of its prominent zig-zagging through the city and its historical significance. The river is historically significant because the city of Ponce had its origins on its banks. Its old name was Río Baramaya. The river has its mouth at 17°58'51" North, 66°37'26" West. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the municipality.
Origin
Río Portugués has its origin in Cerro Guilarte, located the western part of barrioBarrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
Portugués in the bordering municipality of Adjuntas
Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Adjuntas is a small mountainside municipality in Puerto Rico located central midwest of the island on the Central Mountain range , north of Yauco, Guayanilla and Peñuelas; southeast of Utuado; east of Lares and Yauco; and west of Ponce. Adjuntas is spread over 16 wards and Adjuntas Pueblo...
, just north of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, and drains 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....
after running for some 27.6 kilometres (17.1 mi). The river has a discharge of 16,000 cubic feet per second.
Tributaries
One of the rivers Rio Portugues feeds from is Río ChiquitoRío Chiquito
The Río Chiquito is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. This river feeds into the Rio Portugues in the sector called Parras. It has its origin in the mountains west of Montes Llanos. Rio Chiquito is fed by Quebrada del Pastillo...
. In the sectors and sub-barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
s that it traverses, the locals call the river by the name of such sector/barrio: thus names such as Río Cedro, Río Nuez, Río Moscada, and Río Tibes as the unofficial local name of Portugues in the sectors known as Cedro, Nuez, Moscada and Tibes
Tibes
Tibes is one of the 31 barrios in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Magueyes, Portugues, Monte Llano, Maragüez, Machuelo Arriba, Sabanetas, and Cerrillos, Tibes is one of the municipality's eight rural interior barrios...
.
Run of the river
Starting off at its origin in Barrio Portugues, Adjuntas, Río Portugués, as it is known locally, begins to form at an altitude of approximately 2,853 feet (870 m) above sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The river then runs in a southernly direction parallel to PR-10 for most of its trajectory, crossing barrios Guaraguao
Guaraguao
Guaraguao is one of the 31 barrios in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Marueño, Quebrada Limón, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Guaraguao is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios. It borders the...
, San Patricio
San Patricio (Ponce)
San Patricio is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limón, Real, and Marueño, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, San Patricio is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
, and Tibes
Tibes
Tibes is one of the 31 barrios in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Magueyes, Portugues, Monte Llano, Maragüez, Machuelo Arriba, Sabanetas, and Cerrillos, Tibes is one of the municipality's eight rural interior barrios...
. It brushes barrio Machuelo Arriba
Machuelo Arriba
Machuelo Arriba is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with the barrios of Magueyes, Tibes, Portugués, Monte Llano, Maragüez, and Cerrillos, Machuelo Arriba is one of the municipality's seven rural interior barrios....
on its southwestern corner after it crosses PR-10 just west of the intersection of PR-10 and PR-504, just north of the Ponce city limits. From there it enters barrio Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Magueyes Urbano, Portugués Urbano, and San Antón, Machuelo Abajo is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of...
and continues south crossing Avenida Betances/Avenida Tito Castro (PR-14), at a point about half a mile west of the intersection of routes PR-12 and PR-14. A few hundred feet before the Avenida Betances Río Portugues bridge, in the city of Ponce, the river divides barrios Sexto
Sexto (Ponce)
Sexto is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Primero, Segundo, Tercero, Cuarto, and Quinto, Sexto is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
, located west of the river, and Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Magueyes Urbano, Portugués Urbano, and San Antón, Machuelo Abajo is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of...
, to the east. It continues south crossing Calle Guadalupe, at which point it divides barrio Quinto
Quinto (Ponce)
Quinto is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Primero, Segundo, Tercero, Cuarto, and Sexto, Quinto is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
to the west and Machuelo Abajo to the east. This point is just west of Club Deportivo de Ponce. Several hundred feet further downstream, at Miguel Pou Boulevard–PR-1
Puerto Rico Highway 1
Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
and Puentes de los Leones–Tricentennial Park
Tricentennial Park
Parque del Tricentenario is a passive urban park in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The park was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city. It was inaugurated during the mayoral administration of mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago....
, the river divides barrios Tercero
Tercero (Ponce)
Tercero is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Primero, Segundo, Cuarto, Quinto, and Sexto, Tercero is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
and San Anton
San Antón
San Antón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Machuelo Abajo, Magueyes Urbano, and Portugués Urbano, San Antón is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of Ponce. It is...
. Further downstream, the river comes to pass by La Ceiba Park on Calle Comercio (route PR-133) in sector Cuatro Calles. After crossing Calle Comercio, the river divides barrios Cuarto
Cuarto (Ponce)
Cuarto is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Primero, Segundo, Tercero, Quinto, and Sexto, Cuarto is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
and San Anton
San Antón
San Antón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Machuelo Abajo, Magueyes Urbano, and Portugués Urbano, San Antón is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of Ponce. It is...
, and continues its southernly course towards Avenida Las Americas (PR-163).
Old and new course
For flood control purposes, Rio Portugues was diverted in the 1970s by the U.S. Corps of Engineers from emptying directly into the Caribbean Sea to feed into the Rio Bucana which then empties into the Caribbean Sea.Old course
The old course of the river, prior to being diverted and channelized by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in the 1970s, flowed from the area just north of Avenida Las Americas/PR-163 in a south-southwesterly manner crossing Avenida Las Americas immediately east of Hospital Dr. Pila. It then continued south behind the Governmental Center/State Police headquarters, and followed a trajectory almost parallel to Avenida Hostos. It then crossed PR-2Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
immediately east of the intersection of Avenida Hostos and Ponce Bypass/PR-2
Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
, at the sector called "Caracoles". From there the river used to continue flowing southernly, at one point just edging Plaza del Caribe
Plaza del Caribe
Plaza del Caribe is a enclosed shopping mall located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is owned by Empresas Fonalledas, which also owns Plaza las Americas in San Juan, and it is the largest mall in southern Puerto Rico....
. This old course then took a sharp westernly turn to cross Avenida Hostos. From this point it continued flowing south-southwesternly where it (now, since the newly built PR-52) crossed PR-52. From here the river flowed another one mile (1.6 km) crossing the low-lying area of Barrio La Playa at Avenida Padre Noel before draining into the Caribbean Sea about 30 or 40 yards from Avenida Padre Noel, in the area called "Villa Pesquera."
New course
Once the U.S. Corps of Engineers channalized Rio Portugues as it flowed through the city of Ponce, the Corps also diverted its course from a south-southwesterly course to a south-southeasterly course. This diversion started immediately south of the river's intersection with Avenida Las Americas.From Avenida Las Americas the river now flows in a south-southeasterly after crossing Avenida Las Americas about a quarter of a mile east of Hospital Dr. Pila
Manuel De la Pila Iglesias
Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias was a Puerto Rican physician practicing in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was a physician who specialized in a half-dozen medical specialities. He founded a medical clinic in Ponce that grew into a large medical center. Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias is considered "one of...
. After crossing Avenida Las Americas in downtown Ponce, the river comes to the location where in the 1970s it was diverted by the US Corps of Engineers from a southwesterly path to its current southeasterly path. Taking a sharp easterly turn, it enters barrio San Anton, and crosses north-and-south-bound route PR-12/Avenida Malecon about one quarter of a mile north of PR-12's intersection with PR-2
Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
. Shortly thereafter the river crosses east-and-west-bound route PR-2, about one quarter of a mile east of PR-2's intersection with PR-12. The river then borders the Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park
Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park
The Parque Familiar Julio Enrique Monagas is Puerto Rico's largest passive park. It is located in barrio Bucaná, Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the banks of rivers Bucaná and Portugués...
on the park's western edge until it feeds into Río Bucaná
Río Bucaná
Río Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
about half a mile south of PR-2.
Rio Bucana
After this point Rio Portugues becomes Rio BucanaRío Bucaná
Río Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
and divides barrios Playa (Ponce)
Playa (Ponce)
La Playa de Ponce, Ponce Playa, La Playa, or simply Playa, is one of the thirty-one barrios that comprise the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Bucaná, Canas, Vayas, and Capitanejo, Playa is one of the municipality's five coastal barrios...
on its western bank and barrio Bucana
Bucaná
Bucaná is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Canas, Playa, Vayas, and Capitanejo, Bucaná is one of the municipality's five coastal barrios...
on its eastern bank. From there the rivers flow southernly as a single stream for half-mile, crossing Autopista Luis A. Ferre/PR-52. Another one mile (1.6 km) of southernly flow and the river empties as a single stream into the Caribbean Sea just east of La Guancha
Paseo Tablado La Guancha
The La Guancha Boardwalk is a boardwalk in the La Guancha sector of the La Playa barrio in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, facing the Caribbean Sea and built under the administration of Rafael Cordero Santiago, Mayor of Ponce from 1989 to 2004, at a cost of 2.6 million dollars. It was inaugurated...
, safely avoiding most populated areas.
Portugués Dam
In 1986 Congress approved funding to build the Portugues DamPortugues Dam
The Portugués Dam is a roller-compacted concrete thick arch dam that is currently under construction on the Portugués River, three miles northwest of the city Ponce, in Barrio Tibes, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Construction on the dam began in April 2008, soon after the U.S...
for Río Portugues about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Ponce. Construction began in April 2008 and, when finished, the dam will be the first roller-compacted concrete thick arch dam built anywhere in U.S. soil by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Cerrillos Dam over Río Cerrillos
Rio Cerrillos
Río Cerrillos is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Cerrillos has its origin in barrio Anón and runs south until it feeds into Rio Bucana. Rio Cerrillos is commonly known by the locals as Rio Maragüez, because most of its course runs through Barrio Maragüez. This river is one...
was finished in 1992, and had also been approved by Congress in 1986. The cost to built the Portugues Dam is over $192 million.
The dam will consist of a dike of 220 feet high by 1,230 feet wide. It will use 368,000 cubic yards of compressed concrete. As of 22 March 2009, 88 percent of the concrete work had been completed. Its completion date is 2013. The total investment is $375 million USD.
Preservation
In 1971, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Foreman, owners of the Adjuntas property where the Portugues River originates, granted the development rights of their property in Adjuntas to the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, thereby establishing the first scenic and conservation easement in Puerto Rico. The deed of easement and its restrictive covenants protect a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) tract of land that includes the headwaters of Río Portugués. Although the title to the land remains with the Foreman family, the easement restricts the use of the land, safeguarding its trees, vegetation, and other natural resources against destruction or alteration in perpetuity. Today, 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) of Río Portugues scenic easement in Adjuntas's humid forest are a protected entity of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.External links
- Río Portugues during the rainy season Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- Río Portugues in Barrio Playa, before its course was changed to empty by Barrio Bucana. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
See also
- List of rivers of Puerto Rico
- Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto RicoPonce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
- Portugues DamPortugues DamThe Portugués Dam is a roller-compacted concrete thick arch dam that is currently under construction on the Portugués River, three miles northwest of the city Ponce, in Barrio Tibes, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Construction on the dam began in April 2008, soon after the U.S...
- List of rivers of Ponce
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