Samalá River

Infobox River
river_name = Samalá river


caption =
origin = Guatemala (Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu)
mouth = Pacific Ocean
basin_countries = Guatemala
length = 145 km
elevation = 3,200 m
mouth_elevation = 0 m
discharge = 8.7 m³/s (Candelaria)
watershed = The Samalá is a river in Southwest Guatemala. Its sources are located in the Sierra Madre range, in the departments of Totonicapán and Quetzaltenango. From there it flows down, past the towns San Cristóbal Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, El Palmar and Zunil, through the coastal plains of Retalhuleu into the Pacific Ocean. [cite web | url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/hidrologia/ATLAS_HIDROMETEOROLOGICO/Atlas_Hidrologico/mapa-base.jpg| publisher= | title=Mapa de Cuencas y Ríos | author=INSIVUMEH | access | format=]

The Samalá river basin covers a territory of 1,510 km², and has a population of around 400,000 people. [cite web | url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/hidrologia/rios%20de%20guate.htm | publisher= | title=Principales ríos de Guatemala | author=INSIVUMEH | access | format=] Its proximity to the active Santa Maria and Santiaguito volcano complex, with its recurring lava and lahars flows, leads to a hightened risk of serious floodings. [cite web | url=http://www.itc.nl/external/unesco-rapca/Informes%20estudiantes%20ITC/Analisis%20de%20riesgo%20en%20San%20Sebastian%20Guatemala/caridad.pdf | publisher= | year=2003 | title=Geomorphology and natural hazards of the Samala river basin, Guatemala| author=Francisco de la Caridad Viera Cepero | access | format=PDF]

References