Río Cruces is a river in south-central Chile that originates from the hills near the Villarrica volcano and flows in a southwesterly direction before turning south-southwest along the eastern flank of the Cordillera de Oncol. The river ultimately reaches the city of Valdivia, where it is crossed by the Río Cruces Bridge near its confluence with the Valdivia River. This region of Chile is characterized by lush temperate rainforest, volcanic geology, and a rich network of interconnected waterways that together create a diverse and productive aquatic environment. The lower course of the river is particularly notable for its expansive wetland system, which was dramatically shaped by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake — one of the most powerful seismic events ever recorded — which caused approximately 2 meters of land subsidence in the area around Valdivia, permanently flooding large tracts of former pastures and cultivated fields along the lower Río Cruces.