San Javier River (Santa Fe)
Encyclopedia
The San Javier River is an anabranch
(arm or side channel) of the Paraná River
in the province
of Santa Fe
, Argentina
.
, with a complex system of channels
on either side of the main stem
. Superficially, the San Javier River seems to be a tributary
river originating in the Paraná River's alluvial plain
. But it is linked by several channels to the main stem Paraná, from which it probably receives most of its water. From its primary source on the Paraná River, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Reconquista
, the San Javier flows generally south, parallel to the Paraná. It passes by San Javier
and Helvecia
. Its mouth
does not discharge directly into the Paraná River but rather into several channels near Santa Rosa de Calchines
. These not only connect to the main stem Paraná but also to other side channels that continue down the west side of the Paraná's floodplain and into the Laguna Setúbal system. Like the San Javier River, the Laguna Setúbal system superficially appears to be a tributary system, but it is cross-cut by channels linked to the main stem Paraná.
The mouth of the San Javier River is located at 31°29′50"S 60°20′32"W, about 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) northeast of Santa Fe City
, the provincial capital. Its primary source, on the Paraná River, is located at 29°16′32"S 59°36′8"W.
The distance from its source to its mouth is about 250 kilometres (155.3 mi), over which it flows in a highly meander
ing and braided course.
it caused (and still causes) on the ravine
where the town was built.
Anabranch
An anabranch is a section of a river or stream that diverts from the main channel or stem of the watercourse and rejoins the main stem downstream. Local anabranches can be the result of small islands in the watercourse...
(arm or side channel) of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
in the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Course
The lower Paraná River is highly braidedBraided river
A braided river is one of a number of channel types and has a channel that consists of a network of small channels separated by small and often temporary islands called braid bars or, in British usage, aits or eyots. Braided streams occur in rivers with high slope and/or large sediment load...
, with a complex system of channels
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
on either side of the main stem
Main Stem
"Main Stem" is 1942 instrumental by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra. Although recorded in 1942, the single would not be released until 1944 where it was Duke Ellington's last of four number one's on the Harlem Hit Parade. "Main Stem" would also peak at number twenty on the pop chart"Main...
. Superficially, the San Javier River seems to be a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
river originating in the Paraná River's alluvial plain
Alluvial plain
An alluvial plain is a relatively flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more rivers coming from highland regions, from which alluvial soil forms...
. But it is linked by several channels to the main stem Paraná, from which it probably receives most of its water. From its primary source on the Paraná River, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Reconquista
Reconquista, Santa Fe
Reconquista is a city in the north of the , from the provincial capital. It is the head town of the General Obligado Department, and it has 66,187 inhabitants according to the ....
, the San Javier flows generally south, parallel to the Paraná. It passes by San Javier
San Javier, Santa Fe
San Javier is a city in the northeast of the , 156 km north-northeast from the provincial capital. It has about 15,000 inhabitants as of the and it is the head town of the San Javier Department....
and Helvecia
Helvecia
Helvecia is a town in the center-east of the , on the San Javier River . It has about 8,500 inhabitants as of the and it is the head town of the Garay Department....
. Its mouth
Mouth (water stream)
A river mouth or stream mouth is a part of a stream where it flows into another stream, river, lake, reservoir, sea, or ocean.* River delta* Estuary* Liman...
does not discharge directly into the Paraná River but rather into several channels near Santa Rosa de Calchines
Santa Rosa de Calchines
Santa Rosa de Calchines is a town in the center of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It has 5,629 inhabitants per the...
. These not only connect to the main stem Paraná but also to other side channels that continue down the west side of the Paraná's floodplain and into the Laguna Setúbal system. Like the San Javier River, the Laguna Setúbal system superficially appears to be a tributary system, but it is cross-cut by channels linked to the main stem Paraná.
The mouth of the San Javier River is located at 31°29′50"S 60°20′32"W, about 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) northeast of Santa Fe City
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
, the provincial capital. Its primary source, on the Paraná River, is located at 29°16′32"S 59°36′8"W.
The distance from its source to its mouth is about 250 kilometres (155.3 mi), over which it flows in a highly meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing and braided course.
History
The San Javier, formerly known as Quiloazas River, was the cause of the abandonment of the initial site of the provincial capital at Cayastá, 85 km upstream from the current one, due to the erosionErosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
it caused (and still causes) on the ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
where the town was built.