The depth of the Rio Grande varies dramatically depending on its location and the season, as it is a river heavily impacted by irrigation demands and drought. In many stretches along the U.S.-Mexico border, the river is surprisingly shallow, often reaching depths of only 2 to 4 feet, which allows for "wading" in certain areas. However, the river's geography includes much deeper, more dangerous sections. For instance, as it flows through the "Big Bend" region of Texas, the Rio Grande cuts through massive canyons where the water can be quite deep and the currents much stronger. In northern New Mexico, the river carves through the Rio Grande Gorge, which is 800 feet deep, though the water itself at the bottom typically ranges from 10 to 20 feet deep depending on snowmelt runoff. Near its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, the depth can increase significantly, but historically, the river has struggled with such low flow that it occasionally fails to reach the sea. For travelers and those near the border, the "average" depth is often misleading because hidden drop-offs and "holes" in the riverbed can create pockets of water over 10 feet deep even in seemingly shallow areas.