Lluta River
Encyclopedia
The Lluta River is a river located in the northern part of the Arica and Parinacota Region of Chile
. Its headwaters are on the western flanks of the Andes
of the Parinacota Province
, just a few kilometers south of the border with Peru
, and empties into Pacific Ocean
about 4 km north of the city of Arica
.
The Lluta originates at the confluence of the Quebrada Caracarani (which rises from the slopes of the Tacora
volcano) and the Azufre River at an elevation about 3,900 m asl. Along its first 36 km, the river flows southeast and then begins slowly to turn towards the west. In its descent to the valley floor, the river starts to run through a canyon carved by the same river in Rhyolite tuffs and other sediments scarcely joined.
In the vicinity of Socoroma, the river turns direct west and just past the canyon terminus, the river begins to widen. In Chironta, about 70 km from the sea, appear the first farms, whose foods are of a great importance for the consume of local people. Finally, the river empties into Pacific Ocean at an extensive beach just a few kilometers of Arica
.
The hydrologic regime of the river basin is rain-dominated. The increase of its water volume occurs mainly in January and February, as a consequence of the phenomenon known as Bolivian Winter.
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...
. Its headwaters are on the western flanks of 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...
of the Parinacota Province
Parinacota Province
Parinacota Province is one of two provinces of the Chilean region of Arica and Parinacota . Its capital is Putre. It is named after the Parinacota Volcano.-History:...
, just a few kilometers south of the border with Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and empties into 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...
about 4 km north of the city of Arica
Arica, Chile
Arica is a commune and a port city with a population of 185,269 in the Arica Province of northern Chile's Arica and Parinacota Region, located only south of the border with Peru. The city is the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica and Parinacota Region...
.
The Lluta originates at the confluence of the Quebrada Caracarani (which rises from the slopes of the Tacora
Tacora
Tacora is a stratovolcano located in Arica y Parinacota Region of Chile. It is the northernmost volcano of Chile....
volcano) and the Azufre River at an elevation about 3,900 m asl. Along its first 36 km, the river flows southeast and then begins slowly to turn towards the west. In its descent to the valley floor, the river starts to run through a canyon carved by the same river in Rhyolite tuffs and other sediments scarcely joined.
In the vicinity of Socoroma, the river turns direct west and just past the canyon terminus, the river begins to widen. In Chironta, about 70 km from the sea, appear the first farms, whose foods are of a great importance for the consume of local people. Finally, the river empties into Pacific Ocean at an extensive beach just a few kilometers of Arica
Arica, Chile
Arica is a commune and a port city with a population of 185,269 in the Arica Province of northern Chile's Arica and Parinacota Region, located only south of the border with Peru. The city is the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica and Parinacota Region...
.
The hydrologic regime of the river basin is rain-dominated. The increase of its water volume occurs mainly in January and February, as a consequence of the phenomenon known as Bolivian Winter.