Tarcoles River

  
Tarcoles River

Tarcoles is another indigenous name, the origin of which is lost in time. The
 Tarcoles River basin is one of the most important in the Pacific coastal region,
effectively draining the entire western side of the Central Valley. Tarcoles
is also a paradox, as it is one of the most polluted rivers in the country,
yet it hosts an amazing diversity of wildlife along its banks and in the
extensive mangrove areas near its estuary. Perhaps the most famous of all 
its inhabitants are the enormous crocodiles that live on its banks.
These crocodiles (Crocodilus acutus) have been studied by numerous 
local and foreign specialists and have been featured in TV specials,
including several by National Geographic's Bray Barr's reptile Wild.
Displaying extraordinary adaptability, crocodiles have virtually remained
unchanged over millions of years. Giant versions of today's crocodiles shared
the waters with dinosaurs and survived the cataclysmic events that produced
one of the most important mass extinctions in the history of Earth.