SANTIAGO, RO GRANDE DE

also called Ro Santiago, river in Jalisco and Nayarit estados (states), west-central Mexico. It flows out of Lake Chapala near Ocotln and is sometimes considered an extension of the Lerma River (q.v.), which enters the lake near La Barca. The Santiago flows generally northward and westward through the Sierra Madre Occidental, receiving the Verde, Juchipila, Bolaos, and other tributaries. It descends to the coastal lowlands and empties into the Pacific Ocean 10 miles (16 km) northwest of San Blas, in Nayarit. The Santiago's course (275 miles ) is marked by rapids and falls and is therefore unnavigable, but its fertile valley is of great economic importance. Main railroad and highway routes from Guadalajara to northwestern Mexico pass through the valley.