Embalse La Paloma is a massive artificial reservoir located 27 kilometers southeast of Ovalle in the Limarí Province of Chile's Coquimbo Region, within the Monte Patria commune. Constructed between 1959 and 1966 by damming the Río Grande and Río Huatulame rivers, it stands as the largest irrigation reservoir in Chile and the second largest in South America. The reservoir spans a surface area of 3,000 hectares at full capacity and holds up to 750 million cubic meters of water, retained by an 80-meter-high dam. Situated in the semi-arid Andean foothills of the Limarí Valley, the surrounding landscape is characterized by dry scrubland typical of one of Chile's driest regions. The reservoir sits at the hydrological confluence of the Río Grande and Río Huatulame, giving it a broad, expansive character with significant depth potential across its basin. It is classified as a free-fishing stretch (Tramo de Pesca Libre), making it accessible to anglers without the need for specialized permits beyond standard Chilean fishing licenses.