The
Magdalena River (, ; Less commonly
Rio Grande de la Magdalena) is the principal
river of
Colombia, flowing northward about through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure
Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its
delta, as far as
Honda, at the downstream base of its rapids. It flows through the
Magdalena River Valley.