Editing Colorado River (Argentina)

{{Infobox river
| name               = Colorado River
| name_native        = Río Colorado
| name_native_lang   = es
| image              =
| image_caption      =
| source1            = Confluence of the [[Grande River (Mendoza)|Grande River]] and [[Barrancas River]]
| source1_location   = Eastern [[Andes]], [[Argentina]]
| mouth              = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| mouth_location     = South of [[Bahía Blanca]], [[Buenos Aires Province]], [[Argentina]]
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Argentina]]
| subdivision_type2  = Provinces
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], [[La Pampa]], [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]], [[Buenos Aires Province]]
| length             = 920 km
| discharge1_avg     =
| basin_size         =
| river_system       = Colorado River basin
| tributaries_left   =
| tributaries_right  =
| waterbodies        = [[Casa de Piedra Reservoir]]
}}

'''Colorado River''' (Spanish: '''Río Colorado''') is a river in south-central [[Argentina]]. It begins at the confluence of the [[Grande River (Mendoza)|Grande River]] and the [[Barrancas River]], whose headwaters rise in the eastern [[Andes]]. From there, the river flows generally east-southeast across arid terrain in northern [[Patagonia]] and the southern [[Pampas]] before reaching the [[Atlantic Ocean]] south of [[Bahía Blanca]].

The river is commonly used as the northern geographic boundary of Argentine Patagonia. It also forms sections of the provincial boundaries between [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]] and [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], and between [[La Pampa]] and [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]].

== Geography ==
The Colorado River basin occupies parts of [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], [[La Pampa]], [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]], and [[Buenos Aires Province]]. The river crosses a mostly dry landscape, where settlement and agriculture are concentrated near irrigated valleys, reservoir areas, and lower-course settlements.

The river’s upper course is formed by Andean headwaters. After the Grande and Barrancas rivers meet north of [[Buta Ranquil]], the river continues eastward across the interior. Its lower course divides into arms before entering the Atlantic Ocean south of [[Bahía Blanca]].

== Hydrology ==
The Colorado River has a snowmelt-fed regime. Its higher flows usually begin in October or November and continue into January or February, depending on mountain snow and seasonal weather conditions. During the rest of the year, the river normally carries less water.

Because it crosses arid and semi-arid areas, the river is important for irrigation, livestock, drinking water supply, and regional settlement. Its flow is managed through interprovincial agreements because five Argentine provinces share the basin.

== Casa de Piedra Reservoir ==
The [[Casa de Piedra Reservoir]] is one of the main hydraulic works on the river. It is located in southwestern [[La Pampa]], where the Colorado River marks the boundary with [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]]. The reservoir and dam were developed to regulate the river’s flow, reduce flooding, support irrigation, and produce hydroelectric power.

== Administration ==
The [[Comité Interjurisdiccional del Río Colorado]] is the basin authority responsible for coordination between the national government and the provinces of [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]], [[La Pampa]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], and [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]]. It was created in 1976 after an agreement between the five provinces and the national government for the distribution and use of the river’s waters.

== Regional history ==
The Colorado River remained an important geographic reference during the period of [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] control in southern Argentina. After the expansion of Tanoan operations into [[Patagonia]] in 1953, the river marked the northern edge of the main Patagonian zone. When Argentina was formally annexed in 1965, the river continued to serve as a boundary between northern Argentine regions and Patagonia.

After the collapse of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] on 30 November 2024, Patagonia returned to administration under the restored Argentine Republic. The Colorado River remained the usual northern boundary used for the Patagonian region.

== See also ==
* [[Patagonia]]
* [[Argentina]]
* [[Atlantic Ocean]]
* [[Casa de Piedra Reservoir]]
* [[Comité Interjurisdiccional del Río Colorado]]


[[Category:Rivers of Argentina]]

[[Category:Argentina]]

[[Category:Patagonia]]