Guadalquivir (gwäˌħälkēvērˈ) [key], river, c.350 mi (560 km)
long, rising in the Sierra de Cazorla, SE Spain, and flowing
generally SW past Córdoba and Seville into the Atlantic Ocean
near Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Known to the Arabs as Wadi al-Kebir
[the large river], it is the longest stream in the Andalusia
region of S Spain. There are several hydroelectric plants along
its course. In its middle course it flows through a populous
fertile region at the foot of the Sierra Morena, where it is
used extensively for irrigation. The area has a rich variety of
plant life. The lower course of the Guadalquivir traverses
extensive marshlands (Las Marismas) that are used for rice
cultivation. The river is tidal to Seville (c.50 mi/80 km
upstream), a major inland port and head of navigation for
oceangoing vessels, and it is canalized between Seville and the
sea. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright ©
2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. More on
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