The Rio Huasco flows through the Atacama Region of Chile, originating at the confluence of the El Tránsito River and El Carmen River at a location known as Junta del Carmen, sitting at an elevation of approximately 790 meters above sea level. The river's headwaters trace back into the high-altitude Andes, fed by glaciers in the upper catchments — the Estrecho River feeds into the El Tránsito River system, which drains a catchment area of roughly 4,135 square kilometers, while the Potrerillos River feeds into the El Carmen River system, covering a catchment area of approximately 2,890 square kilometers. This glacially-fed origin gives the Rio Huasco its character as a freestone river shaped by snowmelt and glacial runoff, flowing through one of the most arid regions on Earth before eventually reaching the Pacific coast.