Limay River
Encyclopedia
The Limay River is an important river
in the northwestern Argentine
Patagonia
(the region of Comahue
). It is born at the eastern end of the Nahuel Huapi Lake
and flows in a meander
ing path for about 380 km, collecting the waters of several tributaries
, such as the Traful, the Pichileufú and the Collón Curá. It then meets the Neuquén River
and together they become the Río Negro. At this confluence lies the city of Neuquén
.
The river serves as natural limit between the provinces
of Río Negro
and Neuquén
. Its deep waters are clear, and carry a large flow (700 m³/s on average). Its drainage basin
has an area of 61,723 km² and includes almost all the rivers and streams of the Atlantic
basin in the region, as well as an extensive network of lakes.
The waters of the Limay are used to generate hydroelectricity
at the five dam
s built on its course: Alicurá
, Piedra del Águila
, Pichi Picún Leufú
, El Chocón
, and Arroyito
; together with the Cerros Colorados Complex
on the Neuquén River they contribute with more than one quarter of the total hydroelectric generation in the country. The construction of the successive dams and reservoirs has reduced the length of the river (originally about 450 km). Next to it, at the town of Arroyito, was constructed in the 1980s the only heavy water
plant in South America
.
The river is also used for fly fishing
, and in some points its banks are suitable as beach resort
s, with facilities for camping
.
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 the northwestern Argentine
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...
Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
(the region of Comahue
Comahue
.Comahue is a sub-region of Argentina slightly to the south of the country's centre that covers the northern part of Argentine Patagonia and includes the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro....
). It is born at the eastern end of the Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake is a lake in the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, in Argentina. The lake depression consists of several glacial valleys carved out along faults and Miocene valleys that were later dammed by moraines.Nahuel Huapi lake, located...
and flows in a meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing path for about 380 km, collecting the waters of several tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
, such as the Traful, the Pichileufú and the Collón Curá. It then meets the Neuquén River
Neuquén River
The Neuquén River is the second most important river of the province of Neuquén in the Argentine Patagonia, after the Limay River.The river is born at the northwest of the province at an altitude of 2,300 metres, to be feed by a number of streams through valleys of the lower Andes while advancing...
and together they become the Río Negro. At this confluence lies the city of Neuquén
Neuquén
Neuquén is the name of the following things:* Neuquén, Argentina* Neuquén Province* Neuquén River* Neuquén Group...
.
The river serves as natural limit between the provinces
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Río Negro
Río Negro Province
Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.Its capital is Viedma...
and Neuquén
Neuquén Province
Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west...
. Its deep waters are clear, and carry a large flow (700 m³/s on average). Its drainage basin
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...
has an area of 61,723 km² and includes almost all the rivers and streams of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
basin in the region, as well as an extensive network of lakes.
The waters of the Limay are used to generate hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
at the five dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s built on its course: Alicurá
Alicurá Dam
The Alicurá Dam is the first of five dams on the Limay River in northwestern Argentine Patagonia , about 100 km from the city of San Carlos de Bariloche and 705 m above mean sea level. It was inaugurated in 1985.The dam is used primarily for the generation of hydroelectricity with an installed...
, Piedra del Águila
Piedra del Águila Dam
The Piedra del Águila Dam is the second of five dams on the Limay River in northwestern Argentine Patagonia and 590 m above mean sea level, downstream from the confluence of the Limay and the Collón Curá River...
, Pichi Picún Leufú
Pichi Picún Leufú Dam
The Pichi Picún Leufú Dam is the third of five dams on the Limay River in northwestern Argentine Patagonia , near the town of Piedra del Águila, Neuquén, at ....
, El Chocón
El Chocón Dam
The El Chocón Dam is the fourth of the five dams on the Limay River in the northwestern Argentine Patagonia , at , above mean sea level. El Chocón is on the Limay River at about upstream of its confluence with the Neuquén River....
, and Arroyito
Arroyito Dam
The Arroyito Dam is the fifth of five dams on the Limay River in northwestern Argentine Patagonia , approximately at , 315 m above mean sea level. It was inaugurated in 1979....
; together with the Cerros Colorados Complex
Cerros Colorados Complex
The Cerros Colorados Complex is a group of dams and hydroelectricity generation facilities on the lower valley of the Neuquén River, in Neuquén, Argentina.-Overview:...
on the Neuquén River they contribute with more than one quarter of the total hydroelectric generation in the country. The construction of the successive dams and reservoirs has reduced the length of the river (originally about 450 km). Next to it, at the town of Arroyito, was constructed in the 1980s the only heavy water
Heavy water
Heavy water is water highly enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium; e.g., heavy water used in CANDU reactors is 99.75% enriched by hydrogen atom-fraction...
plant in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
The river is also used for fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
, and in some points its banks are suitable as beach resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
s, with facilities for camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
.