| La Leche River | |
| Native Name: | Spanish; Castilian: Río La Leche |
| Pushpin Map: |
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| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of La Leche's source in Peru |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Peru |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lambayeque |
| Source1: | Mount Choicopico |
| Source1 Elevation: | 4230m (13,880feet) |
| Mouth: | Motupe River |
| Tributaries Right: | Moyán River, Sangana River |
La Leche River (Spanish; Castilian: 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,, at an altitude of 4230m (13,880feet) in Ferreñafe Province, of Lambayeque Region. Its two main tributaries are the Moyán and the Sangana rivers, both right-hand tributaries. 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, 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. Traditionally stone levees were used to try to control the flooding,[5] but in the 21st century upland dams are being used.
The valley of La Leche is variously forested, grassland and agricultural. The largest town along La Leche is Incahuasi. Both the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge and the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary are along La Leche.
