Bío-Bío River
Encyclopedia
The Biobío River is the second largest river
in Chile
. It originates from Icalma and Galletué lakes in the Andes
and flows 380 km to the Gulf of Arauco on the Pacific Ocean
.
The major tributaries of the river are the Malleco
and the Laja
. The river is Chile's second-longest river (the longest being Loa River
) and Biobío basin is Chile's third largest watershed
, after Loa and Baker
basins. The river is also the widest river in Chile, with an average width of 1 km. In the Metropolitan area
of Concepción
, the river is crossed by four bridges: Biobío Railroad Bridge (1889), Biobío Bridge (1942), Juan Pablo II Bridge
(1973) and Llacolén Bridge (2000).
, through a short stream. Then, it turns its course northwestward, meandering through Andean
valleys and receiving the discharges from some minor tributaries, as are the Lonquimay and the Rahue. The Lonquimay is fed by some glaciers of Sierra Nevada
and passes close to the town of the same name
. Just downstream from the confluence with the Rahue, the upper course of the river, locally known as Alto Biobío, begins to run rapidly through narrow canyon
.
After reaching the Intermediate Depression, the river flows through a predominantly flat area, being joined by the Duqueco
and Bureo Rivers, increasing its width between 60 to 120 meters and reducing its speed, which allows the navigation in some zones. In the middle course, the Vergara River
joins the Biobío in the vicinity of Nacimiento
, draining a great part of southern river basin after receiving the waters of the rivers Malleco
, Renaico
and Rahue Rivers, which constitute a northwest-oriented and parallel network of drainage to the Biobío of a great part of the northern Andean portion of the Araucanía Region
.
Below the Vergara River the Bio Bio is joined by the Tavolevo River
flowing east from the Nahuelbuta Range
, the Guaqui River
coming from the east in the Andes foothills, and the small Rele River
coming from the west from the northern part of the eastern slopes of the Nahuelbuta Range.
To the east of Chilean Coastal Range, near the cities of San Rosendo
and La Laja, Biobío River is joined by the Laja River
, its major tributary in terms of volume of water. From here, the river follows its course increasing its width considerably, reaching 2 km wide at its mouth on Pacific Ocean
, near San Pedro de la Paz
, Gran Concepción. Along the way the Quilacoya River
joins the Bio Bio River on its north bank nine kilometers above the town of Hualqui
.
", during the later part of the War of Arauco between Araucanía, the southern Mapuche
self-ruled areas and northern Spanish-ruled Kingdom of Chile
. The territory south of the river was not incorporated into the Chilean state until the 1880s after the campaigns of the "Pacification of Araucanía".
The river was once navigable by ship up to the city of Nacimiento, however over-logging during the twentieth century led to heavy erosion that choked the river with silt and rendered it impassible to ship traffic.
In the early 1980s it was renowned as being one of world's best whitewater rafting venues with a trip that lasted seven days through some of Chile's wilderness areas. Endesa, the Chilean state-run power company at that time, constructed the Pangue dam, despite strong protests by environmentalists. With the loss of the whitewater rafting venue, there was also the displacement of indigenous Pehuenche
people, who had lived in the area for centuries.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. It originates from Icalma and Galletué lakes in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
and flows 380 km to the Gulf of Arauco on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
The major tributaries of the river are the Malleco
Malleco River
Malleco River is a river in Malleco Province, Araucanía Region, southern Chile. It rises in the western slopes of the Andes, within the Tolhuaca National Park and near Tolhuaca Volcano. The river is a major tributary to the Bío-Bío River. The Malleco Viaduct built in 1890 is the main landmark of...
and the Laja
Laja River (Chile)
Laja River is a river in Chile, along which can be found the Laja Falls. It is located in the Bío-Bío Region. The source of the river is Laguna del Laja in the Andes, then flows westward through the Chilean Central Valley and terminates into the Bío-Bío River, being an important tributary of...
. The river is Chile's second-longest river (the longest being Loa River
Loa River
The Loa River is a U-shaped river in Chile's northern Antofagasta Region. At 440 km long it is the country's longest river and the main watercourse in the Atacama Desert.-Course:...
) and Biobío basin is Chile's third largest watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, after Loa and Baker
Baker River (Chile)
The Baker River is a river located in the Aisén Region of the Chilean Patagonia. It is Chile's largest river in terms of volume of water. The river flows out of Bertrand Lake, which is fed by General Carrera Lake. It runs along the east side of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and empties into the...
basins. The river is also the widest river in Chile, with an average width of 1 km. In the Metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
of Concepción
Greater Concepción
Gran Concepción is the second largest conurbation in Chile, after Greater Santiago with 1,013,856 inhabitants. According to the National Statistics Institute , the population projection for 2012 is 1,019,775 inhabitants....
, the river is crossed by four bridges: Biobío Railroad Bridge (1889), Biobío Bridge (1942), Juan Pablo II Bridge
Juan Pablo II Bridge
The Juan Pablo II Bridge, also known as Puente Nuevo , is a bridge in Chile connecting Concepción and Talcahuano with San Pedro de la Paz, through the Biobío River. Since completion in 1974 it has remained the longest bridge in the country. It was significantly damaged in the February 27, 2010...
(1973) and Llacolén Bridge (2000).
Course
The Biobío river originates at the west shore of Galletué Lake, within the national reserve that bears the same name. The river flows east for a few kilometers to the point where it receives the waters of the near Icalma LakeIcalma Lake
Icalma Lake is a lake located in the Andes of the Araucanía Region of Chile, close to Icalma International Pass. It is connected to the Laguna Chica de Icalma by a short stream, covering both lakes a surface total of 11.7 km²...
, through a short stream. Then, it turns its course northwestward, meandering through Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
valleys and receiving the discharges from some minor tributaries, as are the Lonquimay and the Rahue. The Lonquimay is fed by some glaciers of Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada (stratovolcano)
Sierra Nevada is a stratovolcano located in the Araucanía Region of Chile, near the Llaima volcano. Its last certain eruptions were in the Pleistocene period, but its activity may extend into the Holocene. Its primary lavas are andesitic and basaltic flows, although it has also produced pyroclastic...
and passes close to the town of the same name
Lonquimay
Lonquimay is a town and commune in the Malleco Province of southern Chile's Araucanía Region.- Transport :It is the terminus of an abandoned broad gauge railway project which supporters cited as the most practical railway route through the Andes to Argentina, but which lacks a link between...
. Just downstream from the confluence with the Rahue, the upper course of the river, locally known as Alto Biobío, begins to run rapidly through narrow canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
.
After reaching the Intermediate Depression, the river flows through a predominantly flat area, being joined by the Duqueco
Duqueco River
Duqueco River is a river of the Bío-Bío Region of Chile....
and Bureo Rivers, increasing its width between 60 to 120 meters and reducing its speed, which allows the navigation in some zones. In the middle course, the Vergara River
Vergara River
Vergara River is a river located in the Intermediate Depression of Chile. The river rises at the junction of the Malleco and Rehue rivers, close to the city of Angol.Nahuelbuta Range barrier forces the river to flow northward. At the latitude of the town of Renaico, the Vergara is joined by its...
joins the Biobío in the vicinity of Nacimiento
Nacimiento, Chile
Nacimiento is a Chilean city situated in the Biobío Province, Biobío Region, south of Santiago, and from the closest major city in the region, Concepción....
, draining a great part of southern river basin after receiving the waters of the rivers Malleco
Malleco River
Malleco River is a river in Malleco Province, Araucanía Region, southern Chile. It rises in the western slopes of the Andes, within the Tolhuaca National Park and near Tolhuaca Volcano. The river is a major tributary to the Bío-Bío River. The Malleco Viaduct built in 1890 is the main landmark of...
, Renaico
Renaico River
Renaico River is a Chilean river that, along all its length, straddles the border between the regions of Biobío and Araucanía.Renaico River rises from the northwest flank of Cordillera de Pemehue, a western spur of the Andes Mountains, north of Tolhuaca volcano. In its upper course, the river...
and Rahue Rivers, which constitute a northwest-oriented and parallel network of drainage to the Biobío of a great part of the northern Andean portion of the Araucanía Region
Araucanía Region
The IX Araucanía Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions and comprises two provinces: Malleco in the north and Cautín in the south....
.
Below the Vergara River the Bio Bio is joined by the Tavolevo River
Tavolevo River
Tavolevo River, a tributary of the Bio Bio River. It has two tributaries the Culenco River flowing southeast from the Nahuelbuta Range in the Catirai region and the Nicodahue River that flows north from the Araucanía Region and its two tributaries the Esperanza and Maitenrehue Rivers that all...
flowing east from the Nahuelbuta Range
Nahuelbuta Range
The Nahuelbuta Range or Cordillera de Nahuelbuta is a mountain range in Bio-Bio and Araucania Region, southern Chile. It is located along the Pacific coast and forms part of the larger Chilean Coast Range...
, the Guaqui River
Guaqui River
Guaqui or Guaque River is a tributary of the Bío-Bío River in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is a river of great volume with a course of 55 kilometers originating from small streams, that have their source west of the town of Las Canteras; it runs to the west, north of the city of Los Ángeles, and...
coming from the east in the Andes foothills, and the small Rele River
Rele River
Rele River is a river in the commune of Santa Juana. It has its origin to the south southeast of Santa Juana, from where it runs to the northeast from among the slopes of the heights of the Nahuelbuta Range and runs to the east to the Bio Bio River in which it empties a little above the confluence...
coming from the west from the northern part of the eastern slopes of the Nahuelbuta Range.
To the east of Chilean Coastal Range, near the cities of San Rosendo
San Rosendo
San Rosendo is a Chilean city and commune in Biobío Province, Biobío Region.The city of San Rosendo lies on the gentle slopes of a hill overlooking the confluence of the rivers Biobío and Laja, which respectively bound the city to the west and south...
and La Laja, Biobío River is joined by the Laja River
Laja River (Chile)
Laja River is a river in Chile, along which can be found the Laja Falls. It is located in the Bío-Bío Region. The source of the river is Laguna del Laja in the Andes, then flows westward through the Chilean Central Valley and terminates into the Bío-Bío River, being an important tributary of...
, its major tributary in terms of volume of water. From here, the river follows its course increasing its width considerably, reaching 2 km wide at its mouth on Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, near San Pedro de la Paz
San Pedro de la Paz
San Pedro de la Paz is a Chilean city and commune located in the Concepción Province, Biobío Region. It has some 80,447 inhabitants according to the 2002 national census. In 2005, the Pedro Aguirre Cerda avenue, the main avenue in the city, was completed. Most of the inhabitants of this comuna...
, Gran Concepción. Along the way the Quilacoya River
Quilacoya River
Quilacoya River is located in the Hualqui commune of Concepcion Province of Chile. It has course of about 40 kilometers with a small volume. It originates in the southern slopes of the series of heights of Lucay that run from east to west in the southern part of the commune of Florida...
joins the Bio Bio River on its north bank nine kilometers above the town of Hualqui
Hualqui
Hualqui is a Chilean city and commune in the Concepción Province, Biobio Region. It is also part of the Greater Concepcion conurbation, although it maintains a rural profile. It had a population of 18,768 inhabitants according to the 2002 census....
.
History
The Biobío was the traditional borderline,"La FronteraLa Frontera (geographical region)
La Frontera is name given to a geographical region in Chile, between the Bío-Bío and Toltén Rivers, now part of the administrative regions of Bío-Bío and Araucanía...
", during the later part of the War of Arauco between Araucanía, the southern Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
self-ruled areas and northern Spanish-ruled Kingdom of Chile
Kingdom of Chile
The General Captaincy of Chile or Gobernacion de Chile, was an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile...
. The territory south of the river was not incorporated into the Chilean state until the 1880s after the campaigns of the "Pacification of Araucanía".
The river was once navigable by ship up to the city of Nacimiento, however over-logging during the twentieth century led to heavy erosion that choked the river with silt and rendered it impassible to ship traffic.
In the early 1980s it was renowned as being one of world's best whitewater rafting venues with a trip that lasted seven days through some of Chile's wilderness areas. Endesa, the Chilean state-run power company at that time, constructed the Pangue dam, despite strong protests by environmentalists. With the loss of the whitewater rafting venue, there was also the displacement of indigenous Pehuenche
Pehuenche
Pehuenches are an indigenous people that are part of the Mapuche peoples and live in the Andes in south central Chile and Argentina. Their name derives from their habit of harvesting of piñones, the seeds of the Araucaria araucana or pehuén...
people, who had lived in the area for centuries.
Sources
- This article draws partially on the corresponding article in the Spanish-language Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2007.
- EVALUACION DE LOS RECURSOS HIDRICOS SUPERFICIALES EN LA CUENCA DEL RIO BIO BIO