| Palena River Río Buta Palena[1] | |
| Name Other: | Río Corcovado |
| Subdivision Type1: | Countries |
| Length: | 240km (150miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | mouth |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 130m3/s |
| Source1: | Vintter Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Andes, Patagonia, Argentina |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -43.8994°N -71.4256°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 927m (3,041feet) |
| Mouth: | Gulf of Corcovado |
| Mouth Location: | Pacific Ocean, Chile |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -43.7678°N -72.9758°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Basin Size: | 12887km2 |
| Tributaries Left: | Rosselot River Rio Risopatrón |
| Tributaries Right: | Rio Frio |
The Palena River or Carrenleufú is a river shared by Chile and Argentina in Northern Patagonia. It drains the waters of the Vintter Lake, also shared by these nations, and it flows into the Pacific Ocean. 56.5% of the river basin lies in Chile.[2]
This river has a regular glacial regime and rapid white waters. The rapids between Palena and Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda are choice kayaking white water.[3] The volume and rapid drop in elevation of the river is ideal for hydroelectric power plants. There are several projects at both sides of the border to use this power.
The river originates as the Carrenleufú as the out-flow from Lake Vintter. Its major tributaries include the Tranquilo, Figueroa, Frío, Risopatrón and Melimoyu rivers.