Black River (Jamaica)

Rio Negro
Wildlife on the Black River
Location
Country	Jamaica
Region	Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	18°11′22″N 77°41′00″W / 18.189553°N 77.683307°W / 18.189553; -77.683307
• elevation	141 m (463 ft)
Mouth	Caribbean Sea
• location	Black River (town)
• coordinates	18°01′18″N 77°50′49″W / 18.021624°N 77.846949°W / 18.021624; -77.846949
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	53.4 km (33.2 mi)
Basin size	166 km2 (64 sq mi)
Width
• minimum	5 metres (16 ft)
• average	50 metres (160 ft)
• maximum	2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
Depth
• minimum	1 metre (3 ft 3 in)
• average	27 metres (89 ft)
• maximum	92 metres (302 ft)
Discharge
• location	Black River Bay
• average	176 m3/s (6,200 cu ft/s)
• minimum	20 m3/s (710 cu ft/s)
• maximum	4,200 m3/s (150,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system	Dendritic
Tributaries
• left	Y.S. River
• right	One Eye River Smith River Broad River Braes River
Protection status
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Black River Lower Morass
Designated	7 October 1997
Reference no.	919[1]

The Black River is one of the longest rivers in Jamaica. At a length of 53.4 km (33.2 mi),^[2] it was believed to be the longest until it was discovered that the Rio Minho was 92.8 km long.^[3] Its name refers to the darkness of the riverbed caused by thick layers of decomposing vegetation.

Over 100 species of birds have been recorded in the Black River morass.^[3] A 17,769 ha area of the river basin, encompassing much of the Upper and Lower Morass, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of many Jamaican bird species.^[4]