Salado River (Antofagasta)

Salado River
Loa and its tributaries San Pedro, Silala and Salado Rivers
Location
Country	Chile
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Thermal springs
• elevation	4,200 m (13,800 ft)
Mouth
• location	Loa River
Length	80 km (50 mi)[1]
Basin size	2,210 km2 (850 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• average	0.5 m3/s (18 cu ft/s)

Salado River is a river of Chile located in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region which is in the northern part of the country. It is formed at the confluence of over 30 spring branches emerging from El Tatio area. Flowing briefly south, it turns west and passes through a canyon carved in volcanic rocks.

In its middle course, the river receives the Toconce River (originated at the foot of Linzor volcano) from the north and the Caspana River from the south. In this area, a part of the flow of its affluents is diverted for providing water for domestic consumption in Antofagasta and Tocopilla, among other localities.

After being joined by the two streams before mentioned, the Salado River enters in a floodplain area, which is used for pasturage by the inhabitants of the nearby localities, including Toconce, Caspana and Aiquina. Then, the Salado again flows through a narrow canyon, where is found the so-called Devil's Bridge, a cut through rhyolite terrain of 5 m wide.

Finally, the Salado empties into the Loa River, the main watercourse of the Chilean Norte Grande, about 3 km south of Chiuchiu.