Silala River
River in Bolivia, Chile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Silala or Siloli[1] is an international river arising from springs in Bolivia, and flowing naturally into Chile.[2]
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| Silala River | |
|---|---|
Loa and its tributaries San Pedro, Silala and Salado Rivers | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Department (BO) | Potosí |
| Region (CL) | Antofagasta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • elevation | c. 4400 m asl[1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | Inacaliri River[1] |
| Length | 8.5 km[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Bolivia–Chile border |
| • average | 160 L/s[1] |
The division of the flow from this water body was a matter of controversy between the two nations, Chile claiming that the present route makes it an international river, while Bolivia denied there was a river and asserted that the Silala ‘springs’ would not flow to Chile if not for the construction of canals over a hundred years ago.[3][4][5][6] In 2016, Chile demanded Bolivia in the International Court of Justice case Dispute over the Status and Use of the Waters of the Silala, in the countermemory, Bolivia recognized the water body as a river, reducing the controversy to artificial infrastructure in the place which would give a 30% more water to Chile. Finally in 2022 the Court ruled that the water body is in fact a river and that Chile has an equitable and reasonable right to use the waters of it.[2]
