The Río Deseado is a notable river in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentine Patagonia, flowing eastward across the windswept steppe before emptying into a dramatic estuary at the coastal city of Puerto Deseado. The river's lower reach transitions into the Ría Deseado, a protected tidal estuary that supports a rich marine and estuarine ecosystem. The surrounding landscape is classic Patagonian — open, arid, and exposed — shaped by ancient geology and the relentless regional winds that define life and fishing in this part of southern Argentina. The estuary and its surrounding waters fall within the Reserva Provincial Ría Deseado, a provincially managed protected area under the jurisdiction of Santa Cruz Province, reflecting the ecological significance of this unique coastal system.