Maipo River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maipo River |
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| Country | Chile |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean San Antonio, Chile 33°36′48″S 71°37′44″W / 33.6134°S 71.6288°W |
| Length | 250 km (160 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 15,304 km2 (5,909 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The Maipo River is a very important river in Chile. It flows through the Santiago Metropolitan Region and the Valparaíso Region. This river is found just south of Santiago, Chile's capital city. The Mapocho River, which goes through central Santiago, flows into the Maipo. Rivers that flow into a larger river are called tributaries.
The Maipo River starts high up in the Andes mountains. Its source, or headwaters, are on the western side of the Maipo volcano. The Maipo River is the main source of water for the region. It provides water for irrigation, which means watering crops. It also provides potable water, which is safe drinking water for people.
Sometimes, the river's mouth, where it meets the sea, can get blocked by sand and dirt. This blockage is called a mouth bar. The Maipo River's mouth bar has closed off the river from the Pacific Ocean several times. For example, it closed after the 2010 Chile earthquake. It also closed again on January 19, 2023. This last blockage happened because of a storm surge, which is when strong winds push sea water onto the land.
By January 28, 2023, a ditch was dug to help the river flow into the sea again. However, some officials raised concerns that this work was done without proper permission. The river's low water levels also made it harder for it to break through the sand bar naturally in January 2023. These low levels were caused by too much water being taken from the river. This is part of a bigger water problem in Chile.
Where the Maipo River Flows
The Maipo River starts high in the Andes mountains. In its upper part, the river flows like a fast, deep stream through narrow valleys. Here, it gets water from three main tributaries. These are the El Volcán River, the Yeso River, and the Colorado River.
After leaving the Andes, the Maipo River flows through a wide, flat area. This area is known as the Maipo Valley. This valley is famous for being one of the main wine-producing areas in Chile. The Maipo River travels about 250 km (160 mi) in total. It finally empties into the Pacific Ocean. This happens near a place called Llolleo, which is south of the port city of San Antonio.
See also
In Spanish: Río Maipo para niños
