Mapocho River

Río Mapocho

Río Mapocho is a river in central Chile in the Capital Region ( Región Metropolitana ).

The Río Mapocho has a length of around 120 km. Its source is located northeast of Santiago de Chile in the Andes. After approximately 50 km the river flows through the Chilean capital Santiago. Water quality decreases greatly within Santiago. About Peñaflor the river flows to El Monte, where it then flows into the Río Maipo.

Go from the river a large number of channels. The most popular are the Maipo Channel, San Bernardo Canal, San Francisco - channel and the Las Mercedes channel. Since the Mapocho not enough water has to supply all the irrigation projects connected to it, it shall be forwarded in Santiago with the San Carlos - channel water from the Río Maipo, which is further removed from the south near Puente Alto.

Flow data

• Length: 120 km
• Flow rate: 6.1 m3/Sekunde

Major cities near the river

• Santiago de Chile
• Peñaflor
• El Monte

History

Santiago was founded on February 12, 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia. Valdivia chose the location because of the Río Mapocho formed a larger island here. This situation was favorable to defend the city against the attacks of the Mapuche.

1778 the first bridge was built over the river, Puente Cal y Canto. In order to secure the water supply of agricultural areas, began in the 18th century, the construction of various channels. From 1811 began large works at Maipo channel, which should ensure the water supply in the area around San Bernardo and Santiago. The work was partly set in the Revolutionary War. 1819 Bernardo O'Higgins sent 200 convicts to speed up the channel works. The work continued until 1827, then President Ramon Freire y Serrano was the channel for the public free.