Cerros Colorados Complex

In 2000, Duke Energy acquired Cerros Colorados and the Alto Valle thermal power plant.

Cerros Colorados consists of four dams (Portezuelo Grande, Loma de la Lata, Planicie Banderita and El Chañar), and takes advantage of two deep natural depressions, called Los Barreales and Mari Menuco.

The Portezuelo Grande Dam (upstream) re-routes the waters of the river towards Los Barreales Lake, except for those destined to irrigation, domestic supply and ecological use.

The water in Los Barreales then flows toward Mari Menuco, through a passage controlled by the Loma de la Lata Dam.

The flow of the river is further adjusted about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) downstream from Planicie Banderita by a small check dam, El Chañar.

Cerros Colorados Complex, photographed from the Space Shuttle . Los Barreales is the lighter blue lake on top; Mari Menuco is the smaller and darker one. The river flows from the top-left, turns to the right of the lakes and then down.