Río Negro (Uruguay)
Encyclopedia
The Río Negro is the most important river in Uruguay
. It originates in the southern highlands of Brazil
, just east of Bagé
, and flows west across the entire width of Uruguay to the Uruguay River
. The course of the Río Negro across Uruguay effectively divides the south of the country from the north. The Río Negro's principal tributary and the country's second most important river is the Yí River
.
The river is dammed near Paso de los Toros
, creating the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir, also called the Gabriel Terra Reservoir or the Rio Negro Reservoir. With a surface area of about 4000 square miles (10,360 km²), it is the largest reservoir
in South America.
Downstream from the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir are two more dams, the Baygorria and Palmar, which generate hydroelectric power for Uruguay.
The Río Negro's drainage basin
size is about 69700 square kilometres (26,911.3 sq mi).
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. It originates in the southern highlands of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, just east of Bagé
Bagé
Bagé is a city and a municipality in the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In 2007 its population was 112,550 in a total area of 4,096 km2. It was the tenth largest city in the state in 2007 -Location:...
, and flows west across the entire width of Uruguay to the Uruguay River
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
. The course of the Río Negro across Uruguay effectively divides the south of the country from the north. The Río Negro's principal tributary and the country's second most important river is the Yí River
Yí River
-Geography:The Yí River originates in the Cuchilla Grande highlands. It flows generally west through central Uruguay to the Río Negro.Various other rivers, including the Porongos River and Chamangá River, are tributaries of the Yí River.-Departmental boundaries:...
.
The river is dammed near Paso de los Toros
Paso de los Toros
Paso de los Toros is a Uruguayan commercial line of carbonated soft drinks named after the Uruguayan city Paso de los Toros. Originally produced by a local company, it is currently manufactured by Pepsi...
, creating the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir, also called the Gabriel Terra Reservoir or the Rio Negro Reservoir. With a surface area of about 4000 square miles (10,360 km²), it is the largest reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in South America.
Downstream from the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir are two more dams, the Baygorria and Palmar, which generate hydroelectric power for Uruguay.
The Río Negro's 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...
size is about 69700 square kilometres (26,911.3 sq mi).