Do you know the name of this river?

Sunrise over a river

© Day's Edge/WWF-US

It’s called the Rio Grande in the US and the Rio Bravo in Mexico.

The Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo) flows 1,900 miles from southern Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s North America’s fifth-longest river, and it serves as a lifeline for 16 million people, including 22 Indigenous nations, and thousands of species. It also supports one of the most biodiverse deserts in the world, the Chihuahuan Desert.

Increasingly, it runs dry, mainly because of climate change and irrigation for agriculture. This vital waterway is recognized as one of the 10 most endangered rivers globally.

WWF is dedicated to restoring the river’s natural flow to ensure that communities and ecosystems thrive together.

Find out more about this magnificent river and how WWF is helping to improve its health.

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