Unión de los Ríos

Information

It is a place on the outskirts of the city of Chilecito, in the Argentinean province of La Rioja, where two rivers with different coloured water meet. As you approach the place, you can see perfectly the difference in tone of each one and how they mix.

One is the Amarillo River, which has ochre-yellow water due to the dragging of ferrous sediments. The other is the Aguas Negras River with whitish-transparent water. The two come from different streams and when they merge they form a single river that looks yellowish. The whole area has a sulphurous smell and a good view of the Sierras de Famatina (a mountain chain).

To get there, from Chilecito you take the asphalted La Mexicana Avenue towards the second station of the cable car. After 6.6 km, instead of taking the detour to the station, turn right at a fork and continue along a dirt road. It is 6 km to a place where you can park freely. From there you walk about 250 metres downstream to the junction of the rivers, where there is a signpost.