The Matasnillo River (also spelled Mataznillo)[1] is a river in Panama, traversing southward from the hills north of Panama City through the heart of the city before entering Panama Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Matasnillo River
Location
CountryPanama
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • elevation200 m (660 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Panama Bay, in Panama City
 • elevation
sea level
Length12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Basin size583 km2 (225 sq mi)
The Battle of Mata Asnillos took place before the sack of Panama by Henry Morgan in 1671

Geography edit

The river is 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) long, draining 583 square kilometres (225 sq mi) and dropping 200 metres (660 ft) in elevation between source and mouth.[2] The river course cuts through heavily built-up areas of Panama City, subjecting it to both industrial and residential pollution. The level of water contamination was rated as "critical", making it unfit for consumption or recreation.[3]

The river empties into the Panama Bay at the juncture of the Marbella and Punta Paitilla neighborhoods.

References edit

  1. ^ Bella Vista Corregimiento Archived 2010-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Contaminacion del Rio Matasnillo". matasnillo.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-26.
  3. ^ Panama City rivers are dirty