Palena River

The Palena River or Carrenleufú is a river shared by Chile and Argentina in Northern Patagonia. It drains the waters of the Vintter Lake, also shared by these nations, and it flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Palena River
Río Buta Palena[1]
Río Corcovado[2]
Headwaters at Vintter Lake
Native nameCarrenleufú[3]
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
SourceVintter Lake
 • locationAndes, Patagonia, Argentina
 • coordinates43°53′58″S 71°25′32″W
 • elevation927 m (3,041 ft)
MouthGulf of Corcovado
 • location
Pacific Ocean, Chile
 • coordinates
43°46′04″S 72°58′33″W[1]
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length240 km (150 mi)
Basin size12,887 km2 (4,976 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationmouth
 • average130 m3/s (4,600 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftRosselot River
 • rightRio Frio

This river has a regular glacial regime and rapid white waters. The rapids between Palena and Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda are choice kayaking white water.[4] The volume and rapid drop in elevation of the river is ideal for hydroelectric power plants. There are several projects at both sides of the border to use this power.

Course

The river originates as the Carrenleufú as the out-flow from Lake Vintter. Its major tributaries include the Tranquilo, Figueroa, Frío, Risopatrón and Melimoyu rivers.[4]

See also

References
  1. Río Buta Palena (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  2. Río Corcovado (Variant - V) at GEOnet Names Server
  3. Río Carrenleufú (Variant - V) at GEOnet Names Server
  4. "Los 10 rios mas impresionantes de Carretera Austral, Patagonia - Chile" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 August 2015.


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