156 SOUTH AMEEICA— THE ANDES EEGIONS. 



of various lateral channels, the united waters spread out beyond the horizon, over 

 a region aptly named the Anegndho (" Submerged "). 



The section of the Magdalena which extends from the Oauca confluence to the 

 Dique de Calamar, that is, the first branch of its marine delta, has a total length 

 of scarcely more than 60 miles. The Dique (canal) itself is a mere channel 200 

 or 300 feet wide, and not more than 8 inches deep in some places ; and although 

 it becomes a copious stream, it would soon be obstructed by the aquatic 

 growths and lost in the surrounding swamps were the Dique not kept open by 

 embankments and other artificial works. 



To the right branch off the Caho San Antonio, the Cano Remolino and several 

 other channels, which traverse the marshy tracts between the mainstream and 

 the Cienaga inlet at the west foot of the Nevada de Santa Marta. But these 

 shallow, sluggish creeks carry off very little water, so that the Magdalena 

 proper retains nearly the whole of its volume as far as the triangular island 

 of Los Gomez where the true delta is formed by its two ramifying branches. 



The Rio Yiejo, or eastern branch, 600 or 800 yards broad, has a depth of 

 not more than 5 feet, and is accessible only to boats. The Boca Ceniza, a 

 western branch, first ascended by steamers in 1857, had a uniform depth of 

 23 feet in 1875. But it is frequently obstructed, and accidents often occur from 

 the lack of buoys, and especially of regular and continuous surveys. The tides, 

 rising only from 10 to 20 inches, add little to the depth of water at the 

 dangerous bar, which is consequently avoided by large vessels. Otherwise they 

 could easily ascend some 200 miles to Tacaloa, at the Cauca confluence, this 

 lower reach being nowhere less than 26 feet deep. 



Savanilla, the maritime port, stands not at the entrance, but on the west coast, 

 and is connected by rail with Barranquilla, the riverine port on the left bank 

 near the head of the delta. This place, like so many others, has been left a 

 little to the west by the main branch, which is gradually being displaced east- 

 wards. Between Barranquilla and the Honda rapids the voyage by steamer 

 averages 5 or 6 days down, and from 10 to 15 up stream. Formerly the 

 hongos and chamjmneH (barges) often took two or three months to make the ascent.* 



Between the Magdalena delta and the Gulf of Uraba the Sinu is the only 

 river reaching the coast. It rises in the Paramillo uplands, and ramifies, like the 

 Magdalena, into a labyrinth of shifting branches in an old lacustrine district, now 

 half filled up by alluvial matter. Beyond this inland delta all the waters are 

 again collected in a single channel, which discharges about 11,500 cubic feet 

 per second into the Morosquillo Gulf. The Sinu is accessible the greater part of 

 the year to steamers for a distance of 110 miles, and to boats 60 miles farther, 

 though the navigation is much obstructed by the shoals of the gulf, the dangerous 



* Statistics of the Rio Magdalena : — 



Area of the basia according- to Vergara y Velasco 



Length of course 

 Length of navigable waters 

 Length of ramifications 

 Mean discharge . 



100,000 square mUes. 



1,060 miles. 



750 miles. 



1,750 miles. 



264,000 cubic feet per second. 



