How did access to water holes influence settlement patterns in the western Gran Chaco?

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distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups — South American nomad Distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups.

In the dry western region of the Gran Chaco, the reliance on water holes significantly dictated settlement patterns for indigenous peoples. Because these water sources were ephemeral, groups were forced to shift their camps frequently as the holes dried up.1

Despite this high degree of mobility, these nomadic groups still maintained territorial rights over specific areas used for gathering, fishing, and hunting. This pattern of movement stood in contrast to the eastern Chaco, where the presence of permanent rivers and fish runs allowed for larger, more stable, and less mobile settlements.1