Abaucán River
Encyclopedia
The Abaucán is a river in Argentina
which flows through the provinces of Catamarca
and La Rioja
, areas with very low precipitation.
It begins in the north of the Tinogasta Department
of Catamarca Province
, at the confluence of several rivers created by the melting of snow and precipitation in the high Andean
peaks, such as the volcano Nevado Incahuasi
(6,638 meters), Cerro El Muerto
(6,488 metres) and Cerro Negro of Laguna Verde (5,764 metres), which dominates in addition the basin of Salina of Laguna Verde. At first it is called Río Chascuil, then, after having received a stream on the right, the collector of Cerro Cenizo (5,227 meters), it becomes the Río Guanchín down to the spa town of Fiambalá
where there are hot springs. There, it receives on its left the Río Fiambalá, a periodic stream coming from the north which drains all the southern part of the Cordillera of San Buenaventura and the Sierra of Culampajá, very dry areas. It there takes the name Río Abaucán, and makes its final orientation toward the south-east. It passes close to the town of Tinogasta
, then constitutes the south-southeastern border of the basin of the Salar of Pipanaco, with which it happens that there is an interaction. From this section of its course, it is called the Río Salado or Colorado or Bermejo. It passes into the province of La Rioja. Leaving the basin of Pipanaco, it threads its way between the Sierra of Ambato and the Sierra of Velasco. A little later it finishes its course by losing itself in a salt semi-desert called Desagües del Río Salado.
Measurements made over nearly 40 years during the 20th century reveal a very reduced flow compared to the importance of its basin. In Tinogasta, it was an average of 2.54 m³ a second, with a daily maximum of 85 m³. At this place, its basin already measures about 28,300 km², about the area of Belgium
. The area of Tinogasta is an oasis well supplied with water by the Abaucán, as well as by aquifers, and is famous for its vineyard
s. Below Tinogasta, the flow of the river steadily decreases, it not receiving any further influx worth mentioning and losing its water by infiltration in highly permeable sandy zones and by evaporation
due to the high temperatures on the plain. Nevertheless, it by and large provides enough water to supply the few human establishments located along its course.
In the part of its course where it delimits the southern zone of the basin of the Salar of Pipanaco, its bed is at about the same level as the salar
. In the event of significant rising of the streams of the salar, this last can overflow and send its water surplus into the Río Abaucán, contributing greatly to its salinity. The opposite interaction can also occur.
The important trunk road Route National 60, which connects Córdoba
to Chile
through the Paso de San Francisco (4,748 m), follows the course of the Río Abaucán for almost its entire length.
Its mode is purely nival, tied to the snow melt of the Andean tops. Its basin has an area of 43,386 square kilometres, a little more than that of Switzerland
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
which flows through the provinces of Catamarca
Catamarca Province
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the , and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are : Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja...
and La Rioja
La Rioja Province (Argentina)
La Rioja is a one of the provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Catamarca, Córdoba, San Luis and San Juan.-History:...
, areas with very low precipitation.
It begins in the north of the Tinogasta Department
Tinogasta Department
Tinogasta is a western department of Catamarca Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 22,500 inhabitants in an area of 23,582km², and its capital city is Tinogasta, which is located around 1,415km from Capital Federal....
of Catamarca Province
Catamarca Province
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the , and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are : Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja...
, at the confluence of several rivers created by the melting of snow and precipitation in the high 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...
peaks, such as the volcano Nevado Incahuasi
Incahuasi
Incahuasi or Nevado de Incahuasi is a mountain between the Argentine province of Catamarca, and the Atacama Region of Chile. Located at approximate coordinates , it has a height of 6,621m....
(6,638 meters), Cerro El Muerto
El Muerto
El Muerto , also known as El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, is a fictional character and comic book superhero created by American comics creator Javier Hernandez and published through his own imprint Los Comex...
(6,488 metres) and Cerro Negro of Laguna Verde (5,764 metres), which dominates in addition the basin of Salina of Laguna Verde. At first it is called Río Chascuil, then, after having received a stream on the right, the collector of Cerro Cenizo (5,227 meters), it becomes the Río Guanchín down to the spa town of Fiambalá
Fiambala
Fiambala is a town in the department of Tinogasta, located in the west part of Catamarca province, Argentina. It is located at the beginning of the Altiplano at 1.505 m.a.s.l. and 320 km from the capital of Catamarca, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. It is situated along the Abaucan and...
where there are hot springs. There, it receives on its left the Río Fiambalá, a periodic stream coming from the north which drains all the southern part of the Cordillera of San Buenaventura and the Sierra of Culampajá, very dry areas. It there takes the name Río Abaucán, and makes its final orientation toward the south-east. It passes close to the town of Tinogasta
Tinogasta
Tinogasta is a city in the west of the , on the right-hand shore of the Abaucán River, about 280 km from the provincial capital San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. It has about 14,500 inhabitants as of the . It is the head town of the department of the same name. The name of the city comes from...
, then constitutes the south-southeastern border of the basin of the Salar of Pipanaco, with which it happens that there is an interaction. From this section of its course, it is called the Río Salado or Colorado or Bermejo. It passes into the province of La Rioja. Leaving the basin of Pipanaco, it threads its way between the Sierra of Ambato and the Sierra of Velasco. A little later it finishes its course by losing itself in a salt semi-desert called Desagües del Río Salado.
Measurements made over nearly 40 years during the 20th century reveal a very reduced flow compared to the importance of its basin. In Tinogasta, it was an average of 2.54 m³ a second, with a daily maximum of 85 m³. At this place, its basin already measures about 28,300 km², about the area of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The area of Tinogasta is an oasis well supplied with water by the Abaucán, as well as by aquifers, and is famous for its vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s. Below Tinogasta, the flow of the river steadily decreases, it not receiving any further influx worth mentioning and losing its water by infiltration in highly permeable sandy zones and by evaporation
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which, instead, occurs on the entire mass of the liquid....
due to the high temperatures on the plain. Nevertheless, it by and large provides enough water to supply the few human establishments located along its course.
In the part of its course where it delimits the southern zone of the basin of the Salar of Pipanaco, its bed is at about the same level as the salar
Salt pan (geology)
Natural salt pans are flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts, and should not be confused with salt evaporation ponds.A salt pan is formed where water pools...
. In the event of significant rising of the streams of the salar, this last can overflow and send its water surplus into the Río Abaucán, contributing greatly to its salinity. The opposite interaction can also occur.
The important trunk road Route National 60, which connects Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
to 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...
through the Paso de San Francisco (4,748 m), follows the course of the Río Abaucán for almost its entire length.
Its mode is purely nival, tied to the snow melt of the Andean tops. Its basin has an area of 43,386 square kilometres, a little more than that of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.