Pascua River
Encyclopedia
The Pascua River is a river located in the Aisén Region of Chile
. In spite of being a short river, its drainage basin
is the seventh-largest in the country due to the great size of the O'Higgins/San Martín Lake
, its source.
The Pascua River was discovered in 1898 by the German Hans Steffen
, during the exploration of the area near Christmas time (Pascua means Easter
but is frequently used to describe Christmas in Chilean Spanish, thus explaining the origin of its name). The river has its source in the northern part of the north-west arm of the lake O'Higgins in the form of a small stream, in an area surrounded by steep-sided mountains that reach over 1,000 meters with glaciers spilling down to the lake or to the river.
The river flows quickly forming rapid
s until to create a cascade in the place where it falls into the Chico Lake. After leaving this lake, the river forms a new cascade and rushes furiously, preventing any type of navigation on its waters. Then the river is joined by the "Quiroz River" from the left, whose origin is the glacier of the same name, increasing its width in a valley of about 10 kilometers wide, which allows the development of large meander
s and some marsh
y and peat
y zones.
After 62 km, the Pascua River ends in a wide delta that empties into the Baker Channel
, previously having rushed in a last area of rapids.
Due to its hydrographic conditions, the Pascua River has a hydroelectric potential of great importance. There exists a controversial Endesa
project to construct two massive power dam
s on the course of the river, but the proposal has generated immediate opposition from a great part of the population and in the government authorities, due to the serious ecological damage that would cause in the zone.
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...
. In spite of being a short river, 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...
is the seventh-largest in the country due to the great size of the O'Higgins/San Martín Lake
O'Higgins/San Martín Lake
The lake known as O'Higgins in Chile and San Martín in Argentina is located around coordinates in Patagonia, between the Aysén Region and the Santa Cruz Province....
, its source.
The Pascua River was discovered in 1898 by the German Hans Steffen
Hans Steffen
right|thumb|200px|Picture of Hans Steffen in 1916Hans Steffen Hoffman was a German geographer and explorer of Aysén Region in western Patagonia. Steffen did also work as teacher, encyclopedist and historian...
, during the exploration of the area near Christmas time (Pascua means Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
but is frequently used to describe Christmas in Chilean Spanish, thus explaining the origin of its name). The river has its source in the northern part of the north-west arm of the lake O'Higgins in the form of a small stream, in an area surrounded by steep-sided mountains that reach over 1,000 meters with glaciers spilling down to the lake or to the river.
The river flows quickly forming rapid
Rapid
A rapid is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the...
s until to create a cascade in the place where it falls into the Chico Lake. After leaving this lake, the river forms a new cascade and rushes furiously, preventing any type of navigation on its waters. Then the river is joined by the "Quiroz River" from the left, whose origin is the glacier of the same name, increasing its width in a valley of about 10 kilometers wide, which allows the development of large 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...
s and some marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
y and peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
y zones.
After 62 km, the Pascua River ends in a wide delta that empties into the Baker Channel
Baker Channel
Baker Channel, also known as Calen Inlet, is a channel of Chile located in the Aisén Region. The Baker River discharges into Martinez Inlet, the northern part of this large estuary. It penetrates the mainland about 75 mi and opens into Tarn Bay at the south-east corner of the Gulf of Penas...
, previously having rushed in a last area of rapids.
Due to its hydrographic conditions, the Pascua River has a hydroelectric potential of great importance. There exists a controversial Endesa
Endesa (Chile)
Endesa Chile is the largest electric utility company in Chile. It was created as a subsidiary of the state-owned CORFO in 1 December 1943 and was privatized in 1989. As of April 2009, it is owned by Enersis with a 60% stake, which in turn is 61% owned by Endesa International SA, a wholly owned...
project to construct two massive power 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 on the course of the river, but the proposal has generated immediate opposition from a great part of the population and in the government authorities, due to the serious ecological damage that would cause in the zone.