Los Santos River (HD Universe)

The Los Santos Storm Drain in GTA V.

The Los Santos Storm Drain, also known as the LS River or the LS Canal, is a large storm drain that runs throughout Los Santos, allowing waste and sewage to flow into the Pacific Ocean. It appears in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online and is based on the Los Angeles River.

Description

Main River​

Like the real world river it is based on, the LS River starts off as a natural water feature from its origins in the Tatavian Mountains to the north of the Land Act Reservoir. The river is dammed at the Land Act Dam to form the reservoir and then flows down the mountain to the source of the canal structure in East Vinewood. From there on, it is contained entirely within concrete canals.

The LS Storm Drain is very large in comparison to its predecessor. The canal features more access tunnels and is much longer and more detailed. It flows north-south through East Vinewood, past Downtown Los Santos by Textile City, forms the border between South Los Santos and East Los Santos where it merges at La Mesa with a second unnamed river that has its own source to the east and from there it flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Port of Los Santos between Cypress Flats and Elysian Island.

Eastern Tributary

The secondary river that joins at La Mesa has its own source in Murrieta Heights. The small creek forms at the southern edge of the Tatavian Mountains in front of an overpass of the Palomino Freeway. The creek forms a small pool and flows through flood control gate structures into concrete channels. There are several maintenance crews here along with several pieces of flood control machinery. It flows in a northeast-southwest direction to its confluence point with the main river. 

Southern Drain

There is a second storm drain also referred to as the Los Santos Storm Drain. The smaller storm drain canal has no natural source and flows from the Port just west of the main river mouth, in a southeast-northwest direction between La Puerta and South Los Santos parallel to Grove St before ending in Vespucci, where it flows directly out into the Pacific Ocean. The smaller canal probably gets its water from stormwater and sewage pipes with the main one seen at La Puerta. 

Galleries

Main River

Origin north of the Reservoir

Northern end of natural flow

Entrance at the East Vinewood drain structure

View of Los Santos Storm Drain confluence.

Storm drain outlet into the river

The river eventually drops in elevation near Cypress Flats.

The drain has many steep slopes that make it unique.

Marabunta Grande at street race start.

Street racers at top end.

Eastern Tributary

Eastern source origin

Eastern source end of natural flow.

Entrance to the Murrieta Heights flood control gates.

The Los Santos Canal has people working 24/7 in order to keep it running.

Flood control gates

Confluence of the 2 rivers

Southern Drain

Main storm drain flow into southern drain

Storm drain outflow into southern drain

Events of GTA V

In GTA V, the canal plays a large role in the game, where it is used by Michael De Santa and his crew to escape the police during the Jewel Store Heist. Later on, Michael and Trevor Philips are lead on a car chase through the canal while they attempt to catch Lazlow Jones. It is also used by Trevor, Franklin Clinton, and Lamar Davis to escape the incoming Ballas in the mission Hood Safari. 

Mission appearances

GTA V

• The Jewel Store Job
• Fame or Shame
• Hood Safari

GTA Online

• Down The Drain
• Flood in the LS River
• Storm Drain LTS (LTS on the south drain)
• No Hay Bronca (The gang leader escapes down the south drain)
• Sinking Feeling (starting point)
• Hasta La Vista (game-mode)

Trivia

• At night, there is a Marabunta Grande street race that starts at the storm drain's intersection between Murrieta Heights Source and the East Vinewood Source, involving Benefactor Suranos and Dewbauchee Rapid GTs. The race ends at the beginning of the East Vinewood Source. There will also be some of the gang at the end of East Vinewood source with the same cars, although they remain stationary.
• The water begins to go deeper at the elevation near Cypress Flats. The player can't walk or drive since the river ends there.

See Also

• Los Santos Storm Drain (3D Universe)