Cauca River in the context of Magangué

Aburrá Valley (in Spanish Valle de Aburrá), is the natural river basin of the Medellín River and one of the most populous valleys of Colombia in its Andean Region with near 4 million inhabitants in its biggest urban agglomeration: The Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley. The valley is located on the Central Range, over the Antioquian Mountain just between the Magdalena and Cauca valleys from east to west. The name "Aburrá" comes from an ancient language spoken in the place by the "Aburreans" (Aburraes) before the Spaniards settled the place during the 16th century.

The valley is oriented from south to north being the south the highest level and the north the low level. The altitudes of the mountains around the valley (west and east mountains), can reach up to 3,100 m (10,200 ft) above the sea level (Padre Amaya Peak). The lowest level is 1,300 m (4,300 ft) above sea level. From its north natural limit to its southern part, the valley is 60 km (37 mi) long, while there are several varieties in its width being the wider part the one that corresponds to the municipality of Medellín with 8–10 km (5.0–6.2 mi) and the narrowest the part that corresponds to the municipality of Copacabana with 3 km (1.9 mi).

Sinú River (Spanish: Río Sinú), is a river in northwestern Colombia that flows mostly through the Córdoba Department and into the Caribbean. It is the third most important river in the Caribbean Region, after the Magdalena River and the Cauca River. It is born in the Antioquia Department, flowing south to north for 415 kilometres (258 mi) until flowing into the Caribbean Sea. The river is navigable for only half of its length, 200 kilometres (120 mi) starting in Montería, the largest city in its basin. Also, this river is the main tourist attraction of Montería decorated with the first avenue when it passes by Montería.

The river flows between the eastern and middle prongs of the Cordillera Occidental.

The Andean region, located in central Colombia, is the most populated natural region of Colombia. With many mountains, the Andes contain most of the country's urban centers. They were also the location of the most significant pre-Columbian indigenous settlements as well as the region with the most European influence due to immigration from the colony to the present day. Beyond the Colombian Massif in the south-western departments of Cauca and Nariño, the Colombian Andes divide into three branches known as "cordilleras" (from the Spanish for mountain range): the West Andes run adjacent to the Pacific coast and is home to the city of Cali. The Central Andes run up the center of the country between the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys (to the west and east respectively) and includes the cities of Medellín, Manizales and Pereira. The East Andes extend northeast towards the Guajira Peninsula, and includes the cities of Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.

The climate and vegetation of the region vary considerably according to altitude, but as a general rule the land can be divided into the tierra caliente (hot land) of river valleys and basins below 1,000 m; the more temperate conditions of the tierra templada (temperate land, approximately 1,000 m to 2,000 m) and tierra fría (cold land, 2,000 m to 3,200 m), which include the most productive land and most of the population; and the alpine conditions of the zona forestada (forested zone, 3,200 m to 3,900 m), páramos (3,900 m to 4,600 m) and tierra helada (frozen land, 4,600 m and above).

The Medellín River (Spanish: Río Medellín), called Porce River (Spanish: Río Porce) during most of its course, is a river that flows through the Colombian city of Medellín and its metropolitan area. For many years an organization called Mi Río (My River) was involved in river cleanup projects.

For the river's first 60 kilometres (37 mi), it is referred to as the Medellín, and after that it is known as the Porce. It is a tributary of the Nechi River, which flows in turn into the Cauca River.