Santa Juana Dam, near Vallenar, Chile

Santa Juana Dam is a reservoir in the Atacama Region that holds back water from the Huasco River. The structure stands about 100 meters high and stores water across several kilometers in length, with the water used for irrigation in the valleys below.

The dam was built between 1992 and 1995 and was a key project for water control in the Atacama Region. Its completion allowed the region to store water during dry times and secure farming in one of Chile's driest areas.

The reservoir is deeply rooted in local farming life, as irrigation from the Huasco Valley shapes the daily work of farmers. The water collected here makes possible the green fields of avocados and olives that exist in this dry region.

The dam is reachable from Vallenar via a paved road that passes through nearby small towns. The best time to visit is during daytime hours when the sky is clear, which is the case for most of the year in this region.

The hydroelectric plant began operating in 1993, not after the dam was finished. It runs two Francis turbines with a total installed capacity of 4.6 MW, a design flow of 5 m³/s and an estimated output of 23.5 GWh per year. The intake is a 1,600 mm steel pipe split into two 1,200 mm lines.