Huasco River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huasco River |
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Confluence of the Huasco River with the Del Tránsito River (left) and Del Carmen River (right)
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| Country | Chile |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Del Carmen River and Del Tránsito River |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| Length | 88 km (55 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 9,850 km2 (3,800 sq mi) |
The Huasco River is an important river in Chile. It flows through the Huasco Province in the Atacama Region. This river starts where two other rivers meet: the El Tránsito River and the El Carmen River. This meeting point is called Junta del Carmen.
The water for the Huasco River comes from high up in the Andes Mountains. It gets its water from melting glaciers. A small part of the river is held back by a dam, creating the Embalse Santa Juana reservoir.
Many towns and cities are located along the Huasco River. These include Vallenar, Freirina, and Huasco.
Water from Andean Glaciers
The Huasco Valley is a very dry area. People living here depend on the water from the Huasco River. This water mostly comes from glaciers high in the Andes Mountains.
Two main streams feed the Huasco River. These are the Estrecho River and the Potrerillos River. Both of these streams get their water from melting glaciers. They are part of the larger Huasco River Basin.
Studying Glacier Melt
Scientists have been studying how much water these glaciers provide. A group called CEAZA worked with LGGE to learn more. They watched five Andean glaciers from 2003 to 2008. These glaciers were Toro 1, Toro 2, Esperanza, Guanaco, Estrecho, and Ortigas.
Their studies showed that these glaciers are melting faster. This rapid melting is a clear sign of climate change. It means the glaciers are shrinking.
Protecting the Glaciers
People are worried about the future of these glaciers. Sara Larraín, a Chilean politician and environmentalist, raised concerns. She was worried that the Pascua Lama mining project could harm the glaciers. Specifically, she was concerned about Toro 1, Toro 2, and Esperanza glaciers.
In 2013, the Chilean environmental agency took action. They told the company, Barrick Gold, to stop building at Pascua-Lama. The company needed to fix its water management system first. They also had to pay a large fine for not following the rules. This was to make sure the river's water was protected.
See also
In Spanish: Río Huasco para niños
