Maipo (river)
The Maipo is a river that flows from east to west through the Santiago Metropolitan and the Valparaíso regions in central Chile. It flows just south of the national capital, Santiago, and ends in the Pacific Ocean.
| Maipo River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Chile |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| - location | San Antonio, Chile |
| - coordinates | 33°36′40″S 71°37′50″W / 33.61111°S 71.63056°W |
| Length | 250 km (160 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 15,304 km2 (5,909 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| - average | 92.3 m3/s (3,260 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| - right | El Volcán, Yeso and Colorado |
The Maipo river is one of the main rivers of Chile and is an important source of irrigation and potable water for the region.
Geography
changeThe Maipo river has a length of 250 km (155 mi), and a drainage basin with an area of approximately 15,304 km2 (5,909 sq mi).[1]
Course
changeThe Maipo river starts on the Andes, in the place called Los Nacimientos, on the side of the Maipo volcano, in the San José de Maipo commune (Santiago Metropolitan Region), at an elevation of about 3,135 m (10,285 ft).
From its start, the river flows to the northwest through the Cajón del Maipo, a canyon; the El Volcán and Yeso rivers join the Maio before San José de Maipo near the town of San Gabriel and as right tributaries. After the city of San José de Maipo the river is joined, also as a right tributary, by the Colorado river and then turns to the southwest.
After a total of about 110 km (68 mi), Maipo river leaves the Andes to the south of Puente Alto, still at near 800 m (2,625 ft) of altitude above sea level, and gets into the Maipo valley. Near Talagante, after flowing through the city of Santiago, the Mapocho river joins, as a right tributary, the Maipo river.
After crossing the coastal mountains, the Maipo gets to the town of Llolleo, just south of the port city of San Antonio, where it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Main tributaries
changeMost of the tributaries of the Maipo river join:
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Left tributaries:
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Right tributaries:
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Uses
changeIn the upper part, the Maipo is used to produce hydroelectricity. The Cajón del Maipo is a popular tourist region, mainly for water sports like rafting.
In the Maipo valley, grapes are produced with the water of the river and the valley is a very important wine region.
Gallery
change-
Los Nacimientos, place where the Maipo starts -
The Maipo river in the Cajón del Maipo -
Maipo river -
Mouth of the Maipo river in Llolleo
Related pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Cuenca del río Maipo" (PDF) (in Spanish). Ministerio de Obras Públicas - Dirección General de Aguas. July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
Other websites
change
Media related to Maipo River at Wikimedia Commons- Cuenca Río Maipo Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
