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• Known in the United States as Rio Grande, in Mexico as Rio Bravo del Norte, the long river serves as a natural boundary between the two countries. The river begins in Colorado, winds through New Mexico, serves as the border between Texas and Mexico, before emptying out into the Gulf of Mexico. The river has its own ecosystem and is home to much wildlife, including dragonflies, fish, butterflies, frogs, newts, turtles, snakes, birds and mammals like mice, rats, and cat species.

• Fast Facts

  1. Length: 1,885 miles
  2. Third longest river in the U.S.
  3. Not voluminous and difficult to navigate by boat
  4. Water of the river is shared between Mexico and the U.S.
  5. Range: Southern Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico
  6. Begins in the Rio Grande National Forest
  7. Major tributaries: Rio Conchos, Pecos River, Devils River
  8. Spanish for big river

• Big River

  The name Rio Grande means Big River in Spanish. Since rio means river, to say Rio Grande River would be redundant. In America it is pronounced both "Rio Grand" and "Rio Granday," the latter pronunciation being the Spanish way.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Colorado River | Mississippi River | Ohio River | Columbia River | North American Rivers | Texas | New Mexico | Colorado | Mexico | Rio Bravo | Big Bend National Park | Chihuahuan Desert

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