Culiacán River

river, Mexico

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June 25, 2026

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The Culiacán River is a river in northwestern Mexico that flows southwest into the Pacific Ocean, near the mouth of the Gulf of California. It is approximately 175 miles (282 kilometers) long. The city of Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state, is situated on this river. This city, founded in 1531, is a regional commercial and service center. The valley surrounding the river has an extensive irrigation system supporting crops like sugarcane, tobacco, and fruits, which are exported to the United States. The city also processes food, produces beer and paper products, and supports mining operations in the nearby Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.12

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Mexico
Drainage of Mexico
Fuerte, and Culiacán rivers have been dammed and support vast irrigated fields. Aridity in Baja California and the porous limestones that underlie the Yucatán Peninsula cause those regions to be virtually devoid of permanent surface streams.
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Fuerte, and Culiacán rivers have been dammed and support vast irrigated fields. Aridity in Baja California and the porous limestones that underlie the Yucatán Peninsula cause those regions to be virtually devoid of permanent surface streams.
Read More