Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Atrato

ATRATO, a river of Colombia, South America, which, after a course of 250 miles, almost due N., for the most part through a low and swampy region, falls into the Gulf of Uraba or Darien. The gold and platinum mines of Choco were on some of its affluents, and its sands are still auriferous. The river has attracted considerable attention in connection with schemes for the construction of a ship- canal across the isthmus. It is navigable for small vessels for about 140 miles.