The Necaxa River (Río Necaxa) is one of the main rivers of the Mexicanstate of Puebla. It is a tributary of the Tecolutla River. Beginning south of Huauchinango with the name Totolapa, it runs through tall mountains and deep canyons of the Sierra Madre Oriental, forming the waterfalls known as Salto Chico y Salto Grande. Its flow is also used to generate hydroelectric power.
Together with four other rivers, the El Tejocotal, Los Reyes, Patla, and Tenango, the Necaxa produces a total of 172 million litres of water generating electrical power not only for Puebla, but for the states of Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Mexico, and the Federal District, in addition to many people in the center of the country.
Five dams were built in the Necaxa River basin for water storage and producing hydroelectricity.[1]
Small-scale forestry takes place in the watershed.[1]
The five reservoirs in the basin were designated a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) on 2 February 2008. The Ramsar site covers a total of 1,541.4 ha.[1]
Navigability
This river is adapted for navigation as the generating plant opens its floodgates to the full flow of the river to permit boats to pass against the current.
The Necaxa is a Class III River.
Access
From Mexico City, take the Mexico-Tuxpan road and drive to Tulancingo. Then drive to Huauchinango with final destination to "El Salto" (the location of a CFE's hydroelectric plant).
^UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Zona Protectora Forestal Vedada Cuenca Hidrográfica del Río Necaxa from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 7 October 2021. [1]
^ ab"Zona Protectora Forestal Vedada Cuenca Hidrográfica del Río Necaxa". National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), Government of Mexico. Accessed 7 October 2021. [2]