The river is fed by streams rising in the Araucárias National Park, a 12,841 hectares (31,730 acres) conservation unit created in 2005.

[2] Other headwaters rise in the 6,566 hectares (16,220 acres) Mata Preta Ecological Station, a fully protected area created in 2005.

[3] The river supplies water to the municipality of Abelardo Luz, Santa Caterina.

The Chapecó River Falls are one of the main attractions of the region.

This article related to a river in Santa Catarina is a stub.