Maipo (river)

river in Chile

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 ot the national capital, Santiago, and ends in the Pacific Ocean.

Maipo River
Location
CountryChile
Physical characteristics
MouthPacific Ocean
 - locationSan Antonio, Chile
 - coordinates33°36′40″S 71°37′50″W / 33.61111°S 71.63056°W / -33.61111; -71.63056
Length250 km (160 mi)[1]
Basin size15,304 km2 (5,909 sq mi)[1]
Discharge 
 - average92.3 m3/s (3,260 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 - rightEl Volcán, Yeso and Colorado

The Maipo river is one of the main river of Chile an is an important source of irrigation and potable water for the region.

Geography change

The 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 change

The 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 change

Most of the tributaries of the Maipo river join:

Uses change

In 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

Related pages change

References change

  1. 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