Embalse de Chivor, reservoir in Colombia

Embalse de Chivor is a reservoir in the Colombian Andes, located in the Boyacá Department, built to generate hydroelectric power. It is fed by the Río Bata and sits surrounded by steep mountain slopes at high elevation.

Hydrographic, topographic and geological surveys began in 1954 under the name Proyecto Gustavo, honouring President Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. The first stage started in 1969, financed by the state company ISA with a World Bank loan, and the second stage began in 1978 with a second loan and the diversion of two small rivers into the reservoir. The complete project took about 30 years; after 20 years of operation the plant passed to the private sector.

The area around the reservoir is known for the Chivor emerald mines, which have shaped the identity of this part of Boyacá for generations. Visitors passing through the region often notice the combination of mining activity and water infrastructure that defines daily life here.

The reservoir is best reached by road from Garagoa or Santa María, though the mountain roads are winding and easier to drive in daylight. Temperatures can be cool at this elevation, so bringing a warm layer is a good idea.

The dam wall at La Esmeralda stands 237 metres high, and the reservoir behind it holds 778 million cubic metres of water at an elevation of 1,200 metres. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 130 metres and runs 22.9 kilometres along its longest axis, with a shoreline of 58.8 kilometres.