Palena River

Palena River
Río Buta Palena^[1]
Río Corcovado^[2]
Palena River; Río Buta Palena; Río Corcovado
	Headwaters at Vintter Lake
Native name	Carrenleufú (Mapudungun)
Location
Countries	Argentina; Chile;
Physical characteristics
Source	Vintter Lake
• location	Andes, Patagonia, Argentina
• coordinates	43°53′58″S 71°25′32″W / 43.89944°S 71.42556°W
• elevation	927 m (3,041 ft)
Mouth	Gulf of Corcovado
• location	Pacific Ocean, Chile
• coordinates	43°46′04″S 72°58′33″W / 43.76778°S 72.97583°W
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	240 km (150 mi)
Basin size	12,887 km2 (4,976 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	mouth
• average	130 m3/s (4,600 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Rosselot River; Rio Risopatrón
• right	Rio Frio

The Palena River or Carrenleufú is a river shared by Chile and Argentina in Southern Lakes Region. It drains the waters of the Vintter Lake, also shared by these nations, and it flows into the Pacific Ocean. 56.5% of the river basin lies in Chile.^[4]

This river has a regular glacial regime and rapid white waters. The rapids between Palena and Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda are choice kayaking white water.^[5] The volume and rapid drop in elevation of the river is ideal for hydroelectric power plants. There are several projects at both sides of the border to use this power.^{[citation needed]}

Course

The river originates as the Carrenleufú as the out-flow from Lake Vintter. Its major tributaries include the Tranquilo, Figueroa, Frío, Risopatrón and Melimoyu rivers.^[5]