Atuel River facts for kids
The Atuel River is a long river in Argentina. It flows mostly through the Mendoza province. A smaller part of the river is in La Pampa. The Atuel River eventually joins the Desaguadero River.
This river is the longest in Mendoza. It starts high up in the Andes mountains. The river begins from the icy Atuel Lake, which is about 3,250 meters (10,660 feet) above sea level. On average, about 31.8 cubic meters (1,120 cubic feet) of water flow through it each second. The area that collects water for the river, called its drainage basin, is huge. It covers about 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles). The river's water level gets higher from November to March, which is during the summer in Argentina.
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Discover the Atuel Canyon
As the Atuel River gets closer to the city of San Rafael, Mendoza, it flows into a large reservoir. This reservoir is created by the El Nihuil Dam and covers about 96 square kilometers (37 square miles). Right after the El Nihuil Dam, the river enters a deep, narrow valley called a canyon. Here, the water moves very fast, creating exciting rapids.
Journey Through the Canyon
The Atuel Canyon is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) long. As the river flows through it, the land drops a lot. The river falls from 1,250 meters (4,100 feet) to 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level. This big drop in height is perfect for making electricity. There are four hydroelectric power stations built along the canyon. They are called Nihuil I, II, III, and IV. Most of the river's water at this point is sent through tunnels inside the mountains. These tunnels connect a series of reservoirs, helping to power the stations.
Fun Activities at Atuel Canyon
The Atuel Canyon is a very popular place for tourists. You can find hotels, camping spots, and other places to stay. The fast-moving rapids are great for exciting activities like rafting and canoeing. The rapids are rated from class II (easy, for beginners) to class IV (hard, for advanced adventurers) on the International Scale of River Difficulty.
The canyon adventure ends at a place called Rincón del Atuel. From there, the river flows across a flat plain. It becomes wider and starts to curve and bend. Finally, it reaches and joins the Desaguadero River.
See also
In Spanish: Río Atuel para niños
