Papaloapan River

Infobox River
river_name = Papaloapan River

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caption = Map of the Papaloapan River drainage basin
origin = Northeast Oaxaca, in Tuxtepec
mouth = Gulf of Mexico, Alvarado municipality, Veracruz
basin_countries = Mexico
length = convert|900|km|mi|0|abbr=on
elevation = convert|3700|m|ft|-1|abbr=on at source to sea level at mouth
discharge =
watershed = convert|46560|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on The Papaloapan River ( _es. Río Papaloapan) is one of the main rivers of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Its name is derived from the Nahuatl "papalotl" ("butterfly") and "apan" ("river").

The Papaloapan rises in the Sierra Madre Oriental on the border between the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. Its course takes it 122 km in a northeasterly direction before draining into Alvarado lagoon.

The cities of San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec (Oaxaca) and Tlacotalpan (Veracruz) are situated on the banks of the Papaloapan.