Paz River

The Río Paz is the border river between Guatemala (right) and El Salvador ( left)

The only 134 km long, but year-round water-bearing Río Paz forms the border between Guatemala and El Salvador.

Geography

The Río Paz rises in the mountains of the Sierra Quezada near the extinct volcano Amayo in the Guatemalan department of Jutiapa. From there it flows first southeast, then turns but towards the southwest and is approximately at the level of Chalchuapa the border between Guatemala and El Salvador.

Climates

Despite its relatively short run of the Río Paz crosses three climate zones: forest-rich areas in the headwaters, bush savannah in the middle reaches and tropical sugar cane plantations and mangrove forests in the mouth region.

Economy

At the semi-arid shores in the upper and middle reaches of the Río Paz little farming is done. Heavy rains - combined with heavy boulders thrust - make the otherwise rather slow flowing river often swell enormously within minutes and also demanded the construction of bridges and power plants so far almost impossible. Two medium-sized hydropower plants with 66 or 72 megawatts maximum power are, however since 2009 in planning.