Katatumbo River
El Tarra, Norte de Santander, Colombia
Description:
The Katatumbo River is located in northern South America. It begins in northeastern Colombia, in Norte de Santander. In Venezuela, the river flows into Lake Maracaibo.
The area of the Catatumbo River basin is 22,317 square kilometers, most of the river is in Colombia. The river has one major tributary - the river Sulia. In the area where the Katatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo, wetlands prevail. In the river basin, oil is extracted and processed.
The Katatumbo River is known for the oil and gas basin of Maracaibo and the atmospheric phenomena occurring over its mouth. Lightning over the Katatumbo River is a major generator of tropospheric ozone on Earth. Along the river live indigenous people, called bari.