Important Bodies of Water in Mexico and Central America

The major bodies of water in Mexico are the Gulf of California (locally known as the Mar de Cortés), the Gulf of Mexico, the San Juan River and Lake Chapala (the largest freshwater lake).

The Gulf of California is also known as the Sea of Cortez and the Vermilion Sea. It is considered a major body of water because it separates the California peninsula from Mexico and has a 4,000-kilometer coastline. The Gulf of Mexico is 1,500 kilometers wide and borders Mexico, Cuba and the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Laka Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico, is located in the municipalities of Chapala, Jocotepec, Jamay, Jalisco and Poncitlan. The San Juan River, one of many worldwide rivers with this name, is considered a major river because it provides the state of Nuevo León with water.

Although these are the major bodies of water in Mexico, the country also has several smaller lakes, ponds, rivers and bays. The Basaseachic Falls on the Basaseachic River is the second-highest waterfall in Mexico, and Piedra Bolada Falls is the highest. A lot of the rivers and lakes in Mexico are used by farmers or are popular tourist attractions.