La Leche River

La Leche River (Spanish: Río La Leche), meaning the milky one, is a river of Lambayeque Region in northwestern Peru,[1] although some of its water come from the northern Cajamarca Region.[2]

La Leche arises off the northern slopes of Mount Choicopico, 06°13′19″S 079°4′59″W, at an altitude of 4,230 metres (13,878 ft) in Ferreñafe Province, of Lambayeque Region.[2] Its two main tributaries are the Moyán and the Sangana rivers, both right-hand tributaries.[2] Formerly the river ran parallel to the Motupe River as it entered the saline Sechura Desert; however, due to stream capture it now has the Motupe River flowing into its bed at 06°26′08″S 079°56′02″W, with the resultant river being called the Motupe.[3] During the rainy season, mid November to mid April, but especially during El Niño events,[4] La Leche can experience severe flooding, and in some years by the end of the dry season it can almost disappear.[2] Traditionally stone levees were used to try to control the flooding,[5] but in the 21st century upland dams are being used.[2]

The valley of La Leche is variously forested, grassland and agricultural.[2] The largest town along La Leche is Incahuasi.[2] Both the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge and the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary are along La Leche.