description Pilcomayo River Overview
The Pilcomayo River is a major river of the Gran Chaco region of South America. It rises in Bolivia, flows eastward through Paraguay and along part of the Paraguay-Argentina boundary, and joins the Paraguay River. The river carries large amounts of sediment and divides into shifting channels across the Chaco, creating wetlands and making navigation difficult in many sections.
help Pilcomayo River FAQ
Which countries does the Pilcomayo River flow through?
The Pilcomayo rises in Bolivia and runs through the Gran Chaco system of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. Parts of its course form or help define international boundaries, especially between Paraguay and Argentina.
Why does the Pilcomayo River change course?
It carries a heavy sediment load that can raise, split, and clog channels across the flat Chaco. As a result, the river shifts through wetlands and its channel has required international water and boundary management.
Where does the Pilcomayo meet the Paraguay River?
Its lower basin is linked to the Paraguay River, but the sediment-rich channel can disappear into marshes and divide before a clean downstream confluence. That is why maps and boundary records sometimes describe the Pilcomayo's lower connection more carefully than a simple single-channel river.
Why is the Pilcomayo important beyond geography?
It supports Chaco wetlands and serves as a shared waterway for Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. The three countries have needed formal agreements, including a 1945 treaty dealing with parts of the Paraguay-Argentina boundary.
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