San Juan River (Argentina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Juan River |
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The San Juan River
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Path of the Rio San Juan [1]
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| Country | Argentina |
| Province | San Juan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of the Calingasta, Castaño Viejo, and los Patos rivers |
| River mouth | Desaguadero River |
| Length | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Desaguadero River Atlantic Ocean |
| Basin size | 39,906 km2 (15,408 sq mi) |
The San Juan River is a very important river in the San Juan Province of Argentina. It is one of the two most important rivers in the area, along with the Jáchal River. Both rivers eventually join a larger river system. This system includes the Desaguadero and Colorado rivers. Finally, their waters flow all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Where the River Flows
The San Juan River begins its journey near a town called Calingasta. This town is located in the southwest part of the province. The river actually starts when three other rivers meet. These are the Calingasta River, the Castaño Viejo River, and the Río de los Patos.
These three rivers are born high up in the mountains. They start at an altitude of about 4,000 meters (about 13,123 feet) above sea level. These starting points are in the western and southwestern parts of the province. The water comes from the mighty Andes mountains.
River's Path and Dams
From Calingasta, the San Juan River flows towards the east. As it travels, it helps fill several important dams. These dams are the Los Caracoles, Punta Negra, and Quebrada de Ullum Dams. These large dams are located close to the city of San Juan.
After passing the dams, the river continues flowing southeast. It receives water from a few more smaller rivers. One of these is the Mendoza River. The San Juan River then joins the Desaguadero River. This meeting point is near a salt flat called Salina Pampa de las Latas. This area is where the provinces of San Juan, Mendoza, and San Luis meet.
River Size and Water Use
The San Juan River has an average flow of about 56 cubic meters per second. This means a lot of water moves through it every second! The river is about 500 kilometers (311 miles) long. Its drainage basin covers a huge area of 39,906 square kilometers (15,408 square miles). A drainage basin is all the land where water flows into that river.
The Ullum Dam is a very important part of the river. It sits at 768 meters (2,520 feet) above sea level. The lake behind the dam covers an area of 32 square kilometers (12 square miles). It holds a massive amount of water, about 440 million cubic meters.
People use the San Juan River for many things. The upper part of the river is great for water sports. You can go rafting there, which is an exciting adventure. It's also a good spot for fishing. At the Ullum Dam, people enjoy windsurfing and swimming. The river's water is also used a lot for irrigation. This means it helps farmers water their crops all along its path.
See also
In Spanish: Río San Juan (Argentina) para niños
