This film takes us to the heart of the Andes Mountains in Central Chile, where the Maipo River runs through El Cajn_del_Maipo and provides water to the 7.1 million people living in the city of Santiago, and supports the communities, the ecosystem and the traditions of this valley. But the river is currently threatened by the Alto Maipo hydroelectric project. Local trail runner and activist Felipe Cancino runs 120 kilometers (75 miles) with over 5,800 meters (19K feet) of elevation gain while tracing the route of the Alto Maipo pipelines. On his traverse, Felipe reveals how the project is altering the course of the river, causing small towns and traditions to disappear, endangering Santiago's water supply and forever impacting the natural environment of this valley. Corriendo para salvar una Cuenca (Run to Save a Watershed) shows us the true value of this ecosystem and the high costs of the country's development system. Will Chile choose a different path?
Trail runner and activist Felipe Cancino takes us on a 120 km run through the Maipo River Valley—revealing along the way the impacts of the Alto Maipo hydropower project on the local ecosystem, its communities and traditions; and the threat it poses to the water supply of Santiago’s 7.1 million residents.
Related Stories
Totoganashi
Totoganashi
For surfer Yusei Ikariyama to save his home waters, he’ll have to first unite his community.
21m
We Can Get There from Here
We Can Get There from Here
A family in Maine reimagines a future for working waterfronts that puts back more than it takes.
28m
Jirishanca
Jirishanca
Josh Wharton knows how to evaluate risk as an alpinist. How does fatherhood change the equation?
1m
KIN
“All of life – each breath, every sip – is an inheritance from those who came before."
Lauren L. Hill and Dave Rastovich travel to one of Australia's most protected marine playgrounds to discover what it looks like when we get things right.
8m
Home, Grown
12m
Foam Dust – 25 Years of FCD
Foam Dust – 25 Years of FCD
The indefinite history of FCD Surfboards.
41m
Tribal Waters
Tribal Waters
When the river means everything, nothing will stand in your way.
50m
What I Fought For
What I Fought For
Former Navy SEAL Josh Jespersen battles the destruction of wild places he served to protect.
5m
Newtok
Losing ground to climate change, this Alaskan community resolves to save itself.
1h 37m
Reframed
Reframed
"I want us to be carpenters. I want us to be timber framers. I don't want us to be women who frame."-Jenna Pollard
11m
Run to Be Visible
Lydia Jennings honors Indigenous scientists of the past, present and future.
19m
.svg?v=0&options=w_20)
Run To Salvar una Cuenca
Trail runner and activist Felipe Cancino takes us on a 120 km run through the Maipo River Valley-revealing along the way the impacts of the Alto Maipo hydropower project on the local ecosystem, its communities and traditions; and the threat it poses to the water supply of Santiago's 7.1 million residents.
17m
