Carén Reservoir, reservoir in Chile
The Carén Reservoir is a water storage facility in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile, set among dry hills south of the capital. A dam wall holds back the water, and the surrounding land is largely open with few structures in sight.
The reservoir was originally built to supply water for copper mining operations in the region, linking it from the start to the industrial activity of the area. In the 2020s, the dam wall was raised by more than 60 meters, greatly expanding its capacity.
The reservoir sits in a dry, open landscape far from the city, giving it a remote and rural feel that contrasts with the surrounding metropolitan area. Visitors who pass through the area get a clear sense of how water shapes the land and daily life in this part of Chile.
The reservoir is reached by road from Santiago, and the surrounding area has little infrastructure, so it is worth coming prepared with water and supplies. The open terrain makes walking around easy, but there is limited shade, which matters on sunny days.
The reservoir supplies water to the El Teniente Division, one of the largest underground copper mines in the world, though this connection is not visible from the shore. Most people who come here see only a body of water in a dry landscape, with no sign of the mining activity it supports.
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