The Río Negro (Black River) is a river in southern Brazil and central Uruguay, tributary of Uruguay River.
It rises in the southern highlands of Brazil, just east of Bagé, and flows west across the entire width of Uruguay to the Uruguay River. The course of the Río Negro across Uruguay effectively divides the south and the north of the country.
The Río Negro’s principal tributaries are Yí River and Tacuarembó River.
The river is dammed near Paso de los Toros, creating the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir, also called the Gabriel Terra Reservoir or the Rio Negro Reservoir. With a surface area of about 1,100 square kilometres (420 sq mi), it is the largest reservoir in Uruguay and has an installed capacity of 160 MW.
Downstream from the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir, there are two more dams, the Baygorria Dam and the Constitución Dam at Palmar, which generate hydroelectric power for Uruguay with 108 MW and 333 MW, respectively.
