Embalse Recoleta, reservoir in Coquimbo Region, Chile

Embalse Recoleta is a large water reservoir located in the Coquimbo Region, about 16 kilometers northeast of the city of Ovalle. The basin covers approximately 555 hectares and is formed by a dam that holds back the waters from the Hurtado and Higuerillas rivers.

Construction of the reservoir began in 1929 and was completed in 1934, marking one of Chile's early water management projects. The structure played a vital role in supplying irrigation water to the agricultural region surrounding Ovalle.

The reservoir takes its name from the Recoleta estate linked to the old Recoleta dam, not from a vanished town. Its water is shared among 700 associated irrigators through 350 km of canals, and the shoreline holds a yacht club and camping area used for water sports and sport fishing.

Access to the reservoir is via Route D-595, which connects Ovalle to Rio Hurtado and provides a convenient road for visitors. A yacht club and campground are located nearby, offering activities such as sailing, kayaking, and fishing for those visiting the site.

The dam wall was built from local material covered with stones and rocks, not concrete: its base is 246 metres wide, the crest 10 metres wide, and the wall holds 1,450,000 cubic metres of fill. Route D-595 runs across the crest, so drivers cross the reservoir on top of the dam.