Achibueno is a river, tributary of the

Loncomilla Loncomilla River ( Mapudungun for "Gold of the Chief") is a tributary to the Maule river in Linares Province, Maule Region, Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the sout ...

, in

Linares Province Linares ( es, Provincia de Linares) is one of four provinces of the central Chilean region of Maule (VII). The provincial capital and most populous center is the city of Linares. Administration As a province, Cachapoal is a second-level admini ...

Maule Region The Maule Region ( es, Región del Maule, ) is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region derives its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...

, where it forms the border between the municipalities of Linares and

Longaví Longaví (in Mapudungun: ''snake's head'') is a Chilean city and commune located in Linares Province, one of the four provinces that make up the Maule Region, in the geographical center of Chile. Geography The commune has a surface of and is bo ...

. It is born from the homonym glacial

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

, situated to the east of the Nevado de Longaví, a

stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and peri ...

in the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

of central Chile. Through its upper section it flows west of the Melado range, surrounded by high Andean mountains. In this first stage it receives several streams specially on its northern side. From the lake the water falls, creating an impressive

cascade Cascade, Cascades or Cascading may refer to: Science and technology Science *Cascade waterfalls, or series of waterfalls * Cascade, the CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense (a protein complex) * Cascade (grape), a type of fruit * Bioc ...

, to the area known as "Bajo de las Lástimas"; (a translation would be Lowlands of Sorrow - the explanation is that in the area lies a trail for cattle which, at this section, is extremely difficult for the animals to negotiate). Down to the small village of Pejerrey the valley still sustains woods which are a transition to the ones located further south in Chile, with species such as the Chilean Oak (''

Nothofagus glauca ''Nothofagus glauca'', commonly known as hualo or roble Maulino, is a species of plant in the family Nothofagaceae. It is a deciduous tree endemic to Chile. It grows from 34° to 37° South latitude. ''N. glauca'' was proposed to be renamed ''L ...

''), Arrayán ('' Luma apiculata''), Coigüe (''

Nothofagus dombeyi ''Nothofagus dombeyi'', Dombey's beech, coigue, coihue or coigüe (from Mapudungun ''koywe'') is a tree species native to southern Chile and the Andean parts of Argentine Patagonia. It is a fast-growing species that can live in a wide range of ...

''), and others. Roads reach only up to the “Las Ánimas” stream, making this valley a unique experience for trekking, following crystalline waters between woods and mountains. Further west the Achibueno receives as affluent the river

Ancoa Ancoa is a river, tributary of the Achibueno, in Linares Province, Maule Region of Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the clos ...

, near the

Pan-American Highway The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...

(CH-5 Sur), and flows a few kilometres south of the city of Linares. In this area there is a magnificent railway bridge. The Achibueno is the most important tributary to the river

External links

Achibueno River and bridge, Linares, Chile, with San Gabriel farm to the west
Rivers of Chile Rivers of Maule Region {{Chile-river-stub