Río Chico is an intermittent watercourse winding through the central Patagonian steppe of Chubut Province, Argentina. Stretching approximately 300 kilometers, the river originates near Lago Colhué Huapi at an elevation of roughly 260 meters and flows in a northeastern direction before emptying into the Embalse del Dique Florentino Ameghino, where it joins the Río Chubut system. The river is notable for its dramatic canyon landscapes — known locally as cañadones — that frame and define its course across the arid Patagonian plateau. The channel is largely dry for much of the year, as the river is intermittent in nature, flowing more substantially following rainfall events that swell the lagoon near its headwaters. The source area near Lago Colhué Huapi features a broad, expansive lagoon that grows considerably with precipitation and can easily be mistaken for the lake itself. Despite persistent drought conditions across the region, the river corridor still supports scattered estancias and rural communities along its banks, reflecting the enduring relationship between this waterway and the people of the Patagonian interior.