Cruces River

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The Cruces River (Spanish: Río Cruces) is an important river near Valdivia, Chile. Río Cruces originates from some hills near Villarica volcano and then flows southward. The southern and final part of the river follows the Valdivian Coastal Range. At the latitude of Valdivia it becames part of the Valdivia River. The small village of Punucapa is the main centre for tourism in Río Cruces.

[edit] History

From the beginnings the river was used by the indians to transport food for commerce. In its early days the city of Valdivia received vegetables from villages via the Cruces River. Before Valdivia became isolated from the rest of the Spanish empire due to the Arauco War, its main land route (Camino Real in spanish) to Concepción was drawn following the Cruces river. The river is home to thousands of birds that live in its wetlands. The wetlands were created when the soil that surrounded the river sunk during the Great Chilean Earthquake. The most known bird of the place is the Black-necked Swan. In 2004 a pulp mill opened near San José de la Mariquina, and begun to contaminate the wetlands of the river.