Rincón del Bonete Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rincón del Bonete Lake |
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 Rincón del Bonete Lake
Location in Uruguay
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| Location | Tacuarembó Department and Durazno Department, Uruguay |
| Coordinates | 32°40′0″S 56°0′0″W / 32.66667°S 56.00000°W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Surface area | 1,240 square kilometres (480 sq mi) |
The Rincón del Bonete Lake is the biggest freshwater lake in Uruguay. It is located in the middle of the country. You can find it in the southern part of Tacuarembó Department. A small part of the lake also reaches into the northern Durazno Department.
About Rincón del Bonete Lake
Rincón del Bonete is not a natural lake. It is an artificial lake, which means it was made by people. It was created by building a large dam across the Río Negro river. The dam was finished in 1945. The lake covers an area of about 1,240 square kilometers.
In 1959, there were very big floods in Uruguay. The water in the lake rose so high that it flowed over the dam. This event is called an "overtop." The parts of the dam that make electricity were also damaged during these floods.
The Tugboat Don Pancho
A special boat named Don Pancho helped build the dam. This tugboat moved building materials and supplies. It traveled from Salto to the dam site between 1937 and 1946.
Later, in the 1959 floods, Don Pancho helped people. It was used to move local residents to safety. After its work, the boat was changed into a patrol boat. In January 2016, Don Pancho sank in the lake. But it was brought back up a few days later.
Images for kids
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The hydroelectric generator of Rincón del Bonete.
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One of the dam museum relics; a Nazi bulb from the Rincón del Bonete aerial BBT lighthouse.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Rincón del Bonete para niños
