Puclaro is an artificial lake created by a dam on the Elqui River, 40 km east of the city of La Serena, Coquimbo Region and 500 km north of Santiago. Regular strong winds make the lake a popular place for kitesurfing.[1]
Puclaro | |
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![]() The dam which forms the lake is visible in the background | |
![]() ![]() Puclaro | |
Coordinates | 30.01°S 70.82°W / -30.01; -70.82 |
Type | reservoir |
Primary inflows | Elqui River |
Primary outflows | Elqui River |
Basin countries | Chile |
Max. length | 595 m (1,952 ft) |
Surface area | 760 ha (1,900 acres) |
Water volume | 4.63×10 |
Surface elevation | 83 m (272 ft) |
Dam | Puclaro Dam |
Its purpose is to improve the irrigation of 21,000 ha of farmland in the Elqui valley.[2]
Puclaro Dam is an 83 m tall and 640 m long concrete face gravel fill dam with a crest altitude of 435 m. The volume of the dam is 4,630,000 m³. The dam features a spillway over the dam (maximum discharge 3,800 m³/s). The upstream concrete face varies in thickness from 0.45 m to 0.30 m.[2]
Puclaro dam is founded on very pervious alluvial foundations more than 100 m deep.[2]
Hydrography of Coquimbo Region | ||
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Rivers | ![]() | |
Lakes |
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