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Laja River (Chile)
Encyclopedia
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 it.
run. The Laja river actually forms from a drainage in the Lake Laja where the water exits at the bottom of the lake through the side of a mountain. Because the river is formed from exiting the bottom of the lake the river level is always constant.
For more whitewater information on Chile http://riversofchile.com/
built in 1973 and the 300 MW Antuco Hydroelectric Plant
built in 1981.
See also:Electricity sector in Chile
would dry up the Laja Falls
and would increase pollution in the lower Biobío River, because the Laja River diluted the pollution from the upper BíoBío River and pollutant would be more concentrated in the absence of this dilution. Irrigators also feared their water rights would be affected. Although the Supreme Court rejected a law suit against the transfer, it was eventually considered to be too controversial politically and was abandoned.
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...
, along which can be found the Laja Falls
Laja Falls
The Laja Falls is a waterfall located in the Laja River in southcentral Chile. It lies next to the old Pan-American Highway, between the cities of Los Ángeles and Chillán. It flows into a rocky canyon which has become very commercialized because of its location.-External links:*...
. It is located in the Bío-Bío Region
Bío-Bío Region
The VIII Biobío Region , one of the fifteen first-order administrative divisions in Chile, comprises four provinces: Arauco, Biobio, Concepción, and Ñuble.The capital of the Region is Concepción...
. The source of the river is Laguna del Laja
Laguna del Laja
Laguna del Laja is a lake located in the Bío-Bío Region of Chile. The lake borders and gives its name to Laguna del Laja National Park.-References:...
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...
, then flows westward through the Chilean Central Valley
Chilean Central Valley
The Central Valley , Intermediate Depression or Longitudinal Valley is the depression between the Chilean Costal Range and the Andes Mountains. The central valley should not be confused with Central Chile that encompasses part of the valley...
and terminates into the Bío-Bío River
Bío-Bío River
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....
, being an important tributary of it.
Whitewater
The Laja River is known among whitewater kayakers in Chile as Class 5 very steep and thrilling whitewater kayakingWhitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...
run. The Laja river actually forms from a drainage in the Lake Laja where the water exits at the bottom of the lake through the side of a mountain. Because the river is formed from exiting the bottom of the lake the river level is always constant.
For more whitewater information on Chile http://riversofchile.com/
Hydropower
Three hydropower plants are located at and below the outlet of Lake Laja, including the 400 MW El Toro Hydroelectric PlantEl Toro Hydroelectric Plant
El Toro Hydroelectric Plant is a hydroelectric power station in Bío-Bío Region, Chile. The plant uses water from Laja River and produces 400MW of electricity. The plant was built by ENDESA in 1973....
built in 1973 and the 300 MW Antuco Hydroelectric Plant
Antuco Hydroelectric Plant
Antuco Hydroelectric Plant is a hydroelectric power station in Biobío Region, Chile. The plant uses water from Laja River and produces 300MW of electricity. The plant was built by ENDESA in 1981....
built in 1981.
See also:Electricity sector in Chile
Electricity sector in Chile
The electricity sector in Chile relies predominantly on thermal and hydro power generation. Faced with natural gas shortages, Chile began in 2007 to build its first liquefied natural gas terminal and re-gasification plant at Quintero near the capital city of Santiago to secure supply for its...
Irrigation
Below the lake and the hydropower plants and before the Laja Falls lie 70,000 hectares of irrigated land.History
In 1984, private companies planned to divert the Laja River to another river further north to power new hydroelectric plants there. Opponents argued that the interbasin transferInterbasin transfer
Interbasin transfer or transbasin diversion are terms used to describe man-made conveyance schemes which move water from one river basin where it is available, to another basin where water is less available or could be utilized better for human development...
would dry up the Laja Falls
Laja Falls
The Laja Falls is a waterfall located in the Laja River in southcentral Chile. It lies next to the old Pan-American Highway, between the cities of Los Ángeles and Chillán. It flows into a rocky canyon which has become very commercialized because of its location.-External links:*...
and would increase pollution in the lower Biobío River, because the Laja River diluted the pollution from the upper BíoBío River and pollutant would be more concentrated in the absence of this dilution. Irrigators also feared their water rights would be affected. Although the Supreme Court rejected a law suit against the transfer, it was eventually considered to be too controversial politically and was abandoned.