Salinas River (Guatemala)

The Salinas is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources (located at 15.270358°N 91.413717°W / 15.270358; -91.413717 (Sources of the Río Negro)) in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam (located at 15.281536°N 90.490952°W / 15.281536; -90.490952 (Chixoy Hidroelectric Dam)), where the Río Salama and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro. After the Chixoy dam, the river is called Río Chixoy and flows northwards through Alta Verapaz until it reaches the border with Mexico. From there on it continues along the border for 113 kilometres (70 mi) as the Salinas river until it finally converges with the Río de la Pasión (at 16.481193°N 90.544167°W / 16.481193; -90.544167 (Convergence Salinas and Pasión rivers)) to form the Usumacinta river which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Guatemala's National Institute for Electricity (INDE) is planning the construction of a new hydroelectric dam on the Chixoy river. The proposed location of the Xalalá hydroelectric dam is situated at 15.692833°N 90.786361°W / 15.692833; -90.786361 (Planned location Xalalá Hidroelectric Dam).[2] in the municipality of Ixcán, El Quiché.