Río Negro, Major river in northern Patagonia, Argentina
Río Negro is a river flowing through northern Patagonia in Argentina, covering 635 kilometers from source to mouth. It forms where the Neuquén and Limay rivers meet near the Chilean border, then travels east across dry plains toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Spanish explorers first traveled inland along this waterway in 1604 while searching for the legendary City of the Caesars. That early expedition marked the beginning of European exploration into the Patagonian interior regions.
The river takes its name from the Mapuche expression Curu Leuvu, referring to the dark water. Visitors today notice numerous weeping willows along the banks, trees that already caught the attention of early settlers.
The lower 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) allow boat navigation, giving access to different points along the banks. Irrigation systems draw water from the river to supply fruit orchards that define much of the surrounding landscape.
The Regata del Río Negro covers 653 kilometers (about 406 miles) across six stages and ranks as the longest kayak race in the world. Paddlers traverse nearly the entire river length from the Andes to the Atlantic mouth.
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