Guadalquivir
| Guadalquivir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Origin | Cañada de las Fuentes, Jaén |
| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean |
| Basin countries | Spain |
| Length | 657 km (408 mi) |
| Source elevation | 1400 m (4600 ft) |
| Avg. discharge | Seville: 164.3 m³/s (539 ft³/s) |
| Basin area | 56,978 km² (35,406 mi²) |
The Guadalquivir is the third longest river in Spain (after the Tagus and Ebro), and the longest in Andalusia. The name comes from the Arabic al-wād al-kabir (الوادي الكبير), 'The Great River'. The river was called Betis (or Baetis) from Pre-Roman times to the Al-Andalus period, giving its name to the Hispania Baetica Roman province.
It has a length of 657 kilometers and drains an area of about 58,000 square kilometers. It begins at Cañada de las Fuentes in the Cazorla mountain range (Jaén), passes through Córdoba and Seville and ends at the fishing village of Bonanza, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, flowing into the Gulf of Cádiz, in the Atlantic Ocean. The marshy lowlands at the river's end are known as "Las Marismas". It borders Doñana National Park reserve.
The Guadalquivir river is the only great navigable river in Spain. Currently it is navigable up as far as Seville, but in Roman times it was navigable to Córdoba.
The ancient city of Tartessos was said to be have been located on the mouth of the Guadalquivir, although its site has still not been found.
Image gallery
 Guadalquivir river, Córdoba |  Guadalquivir and old Roman Bridge, Córdoba |  Guadalquivir river, Seville |  Guadalquivir and Quinto Centenario Bridge, Seville |
 Cormorants in lower Gudalquivir (Doñana National Park) |
External links
Categories
Rivers of Andalusia | Guadalquivir basin