The Itata (in Mapudungun: abundant grazing) is a river located in the VIII Region of Biobío in central Chile and has a length of 180 km.

Itata River Basin covers an area of 11,294 km ², being part of the VIII region of Bio Bio.The main river originates near the Rail way Statio Cholguán Longitudinal Sur, a few miles north of the north bank of the Laja River. At this point Cholguán rivers meet, coming from the east, and Huepi, which fall from the south. At a distance of 85 km NNW bound to its meeting with the Ñuble, is capturing its main tributaries that form a network of drainage direction parallel to the west, whose headwaters are in themountain area. Part of it Danicalqui rivers, Diguillín and Larqui.

Just above its junction with the Danilcalqui the Itata presents a leap of 20-25m in height. From it, the river runs in the depression midway between low banks and cultivated.
In the lower, after transposing the "Cordillera de la Costa", the sand banks to the current force to expand considerably in vegas and its dept decreases. The width at the mouth of Itata varies from 100 to 200 m in summer, and reaches 300 m in winter.