Balsas River

The Balsas River (Spanish Río Balsas, also locally known as the Mezcala River, or Atoyac River) is a major river of south-central Mexico. The basin flows through the states of Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, and Mexico. The river empties into the Pacific Ocean at Mangrove Point, adjacent to the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. Several rapids along the course of the Balsas River limit its navigability and thus the river has been largely used for generation of hydroelectric power, flood control and irrigation. The Balsas River valley was possibly one of the earliest maize growing sites in Mexico, dating from around 9200 years ago. Later the area was populated by the Olmecs. Their culture originated at the Alto Balsas region in the Balsas...