Antofagasta
Encyclopedia
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile
, about 700 miles (1,126.5 km) north of Santiago
. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province
and Antofagasta Region
. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905. However, a recent population projection by the National Institute of Statistics of Chile in 2009, says the city has an estimated population of 360,473 inhabitants.
The city of Antofagasta is closely linked to mining
activity, being a major mining area of the country. The last decade has been a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and remarkable skyline development.
It is probably a compound word that comes from the southern Cacan
"anto" (or "hattun", which means “Grande” –big-), "faya" (or “haya”, which means “salar”–dry lake
-) and "gasta" (meaning “pueblo
”), being a toponymy
meaning "Pueblo del Salar Grande" (“Town of the great salt lake”).
According to other theories, it may be a compound word from the Quechua word "anta" (meaning “cobre” –copper
-) and "Pakay" (meaning “esconder” –hidden-), being a toponymy meaning “Escondrijo del Cobre" (“Copper Cache"); could also be related to the Chango language, "Antofagasti" (meaning "Puerta del Sol"- Sun Gate-), how the changos called the current natural monument “La Portada
”. However, it says the name Antofagasta is due to a decision by Manuel Mariano Melgarejo
, who renamed the city in honor of a stay that had in Antofagasta de la Sierra
, in 1870.
In Chile, Antofagasta is known as “La Perla del Norte” (The Pearl of the North), for its historical and economic importance.
during the government of Andrés de Santa Cruz
, in 1837, created the “Departamento del Litoral”, which was divided into two provinces: La Mar (with capital Cobija) and Atacama (with its capital in San Pedro de Atacama
) and 1868, Antofagasta would be the capital of the province of Mejillones
.
On September 18, 1866, José Santos Ossa and Francisco Puelma achieved the award of the concession of nitrate
lands, following a request sent to the Bolivian government
. The exploring of the chile
an miners found rich deposits of saltpeter
(nitrate) in the field of “Salar del Carmen”, to the east of the present Antofagasta. Agreed to form the “Sociedad Exploradora del Desierto de Atacama” (Explorer Society of Atacama Desert). After the formation of the company, began to fill with what was called “La Chimba”. On March 19, 1868, the “Melbourne Clark Company” was established, after the integration of Chilean and British capital.
After the earthquake in Iquique
and Cobija of August 13, 1868, it was necessary to give legal recognition to the Chimba as a mining town. On August 27, 1868, Bolivia's President Mariano Melgarejo
instructed the Prefect of the Department of Litoral, the official founding of La Chimba, in the area bounded by the commissioners and Jose Santos Hilario Ruiz Prada. On October 22, 1868, the population was officially established and the port under the name La Chimba, as stated in the foundation charter. Later the city was renamed Antofagasta. The first official map of the population and the port of Antofagasta was designed by Jose Santos Prada in 14 September 1869. In this document, set out the grounds of the Melbourne Clark Company, plus 17 blocks and a the Main Square.
On May 8, 1871, Antofagasta was appointed by the Bolivian Government
as Puerto Mayor, open trade worldwide. Next year, on January 25, 1872, following a session led by the prefect of the Provincial Department of Mejillones
, Manuel Buitrago, founded the Municipality of Antofagasta under Bolivian law of Municipalities, which formed the body of “Municipal Agents”, composed of two Germans, one English and six Chileans.
On November 27, 1873, the "Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta" signed a contract with the government of Bolivia, in which taxes were removed from mineral exploitation for 15 years. This contract was not ratified by the Congress of Bolivia, which was then analyzed negotiations with Chile.
. The secret alliance, forbade Bolivia from signing a border treaty with Chile, without consulting with Perú
. However, in 1874 Chile and Bolivia signed a border treaty, which replaced the previous treaty of 1866. One of its points was not to impose new taxes on individuals, industries and Chilean capital for 25 years.
For Bolivia, the contract of 1873 between the government and "Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarriles de Antofagasta" was not yet in force, because, according to the Bolivian constitution, all contracts with the Bolivian government had to be approved by Congress.
According to the Bolivian version of events, the contract with the company of saltpeter
was incomplete so the congress, to approve the contract, decided to enforce a tax of 10 cents, which did not violate the treaty of 1874, since the contract was not yet in force at that date. Bolivia suspended the tax in deference to the government of Chile, but following a note from the Chilean foreign minister, it reactivated the tax law, then cancelled and closed the “Compañía de Salitres”. Faced with a looming conflict with Chile, Bolivia decided to claim support under the agreement signed with Peru, and the treaty became effective with the Chilean occupation of Antofagasta, on February 14, 1879.
According to the Chilean version of events, the tax of 10 cents violated the treaty of 1874 since according to this, new taxes should not have been imposed on Chilean companies operating in Bolivia. At the breaking of the boundary treaty by Bolivia, and the cancellation of the contract of the “Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarriles de Antofagasta”, Chile seized Antofagasta, then in Bolivian territory, whose sovereignty had been ratified before 1866. After the war, a pact of truce was signed between Bolivia and Chile in 1884, which stated that the territory between the Loa River
and parallel 23 would be under the administration of Chile, while Bolivia would be allowed access to the ports of Arica
and Antofagasta. However, both treaties left outstanding issues to be clarified in two subsequent treaties, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Chile and Bolivia in 1904 and the 1929 Treaty of Lima in Peru.
and La Paz
, Bolivia was granted free movement of commerce through Chilean territory. With this, Bolivia finally recognized the permanent Chilean sovereignty over the disputed territory previously. However, this treaty has been a constant source of diplomatic tensions between both countries during the twentieth and early twenty-first century, because Bolivia lost all sovereignty over the Pacific Ocean
.
In 1905, the city of Antofagasta began construction of sewers, because of existing outbreaks of bubonic plague and smallpox
. The same year was ordered, so unsatisfactory, the closure of public places, in order to prevent the spread of disease.
On February 1, 1906, the railway workers union
of the "Ferrocarril Antofagasta a Bolivia" called for a readjustment of working hours, which was rejected. For this reason, on 6 February, from more than 3,000 workers went on strike, marching in protest to the Plaza Colon (main square). The army opened fire on protesters, killing 58 people. The fact is known as the "Massacre of Plaza Colon".
In 1937, the Municipality of Antofagasta made a national call for the composition of Antofagasta's anthem. Antonio Rendic, famous physician
and poet
of the city, and Juan Bautista Quagliotto, musician
, claimed the right to compose the lyrics and music, respectively. On February 2, 1948, the Mayor Juan de Dios Carmona proposed in an open session in the hall of the Municipality, the establishment of February 14 as the day of the celebration of Antofagasta, despite not being the real founding date. Later, after the popular approval, the council approved the date.
In 1956 was created the Universidad del Norte (now the Catholic University of the North), due to support from the Catholic University of Valparaiso. On October 9, of the same year began the negotiations for the creation of the "Centro Universitario Zona Norte" (University Center North Zone), part of the University of Chile. In 1968 was inaugurated the Antofagasta center of the University of Chile, after a university reform agreement which meant the autonomy of the University Center North Zone. Finally in 1981, merging the offices of the University of Chile and Technical State University, giving rise to the University of Antofagasta.
The barrage of Antofagasta, registered on June 18, 1991, devastated much of the city, undermining land, damaged 2464 houses and destroyed 493 buildings, all this resulting in material damage on the occasion were estimated at approximately $ 70,000,000. The disaster left a toll of 92 dead, 16 missing and about 20,000 homeless. On July 30, 1995, the city was hit by an earthquake
measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale, with an intensity VII to VIII on the Mercalli Scale. Although the fatal balance accounted three people dead and hundred injured, structural damage was minor for the magnitude of the event.
, and during the last decade, Antofagasta has had one of the highest increases in urban and economic development in Chile.
The construction industry has had remarkable growth as seen in the many recently constructed tall buildings, the extension of the urban area to the north of the city, and different urban projects as the renovation of the entire Costanera Avenue, and walkways of the city center. In economic development
, settled many retail chains and supermarkets as well as various high-quality hotel chains, which promoted business tourism to attract capital and trading partners in mining and port activity. Similarly, the city was awarded the installation of the Casino Enjoy Antofagasta.
In the municipal elections of 2008, the first woman mayor of the city was elected, Dra. Marcela Hernando, who retired from her political party to run as an Independent. This allowed her to have diverse support from all sectors of the population of Antofagasta.
Experts have estimated that in the next 10 years the city will reach 500 thousand inhabitants.
The urban area of Antofagasta begins abruptly, breaking the monotony of the desert
and is located in the coastal plains, south of the “Peninsula of Mejillones
” and north of “Cerro Coloso”. The Tropic of Capricorn
passes in the north of the city, outside the urban area, which is located the Cerro Moreno International Airport
. For this reason on December 21, 2000, was opened the Tropic of Capricorn Monument
.
Antofagasta was declared a partial common in the border area July 20, 1999, by Supreme Decree No. 1166 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The city has little vegetation
because it is situated in the Atacama Desert
, which is the world's driest desert.
, of four types present throughout the region, which vary according to altitude. In the coastal plain (where is located the city) is a desert climate with abundant cloudiness
(BWN
), and beyond the Chilean Coast Range
, is a more typical desert climate (BWK), with an average annual mean temperature between 18° and 28°C.
The marked aridity and water scarcity are regulated by the Humboldt Current
, addition to the high humidity and morning fog known as camanchaca. Furthermore, the Pacific anticyclone generates winds from the south and southwest. All this means mild and stable temperatures for most of the year.
The average annual temperature is 17 °C (62.6 °F). The average daily low temperature in the warmest month, February, is 17 °C (62.6 °F) while the average daily high temperature is 23 °C (73.4 °F). The coldest month, July, sees an average low temperature of 12 °C (53.6 °F) and an average high temperature of 16 °C (60.8 °F). The highest temperature recorded is 31 °C (87.8 °F) and the lowest recorded is 5 °C (41 °F).
The Atacama Desert coast is subjected to a climate of extreme aridity, therefore generates a low average annual rainfall of 4 mm (1904–1998). However, the sporadic occurrence of heavy rainfall, together with the geomorphologic situation of the city, making it susceptible to be affected by mud flows and landslides. Between 1916 and 1999, the city was affected by floods or landslides on seven occasions: 1925, 1930, twice in 1940, 1982, 1987 and 1991, of which the most important episodes in 1940 and 1991.
The city has an irregular geomorphology by the presence of steep hills (400–500 m) that are part of Chilean Coast Range
, in its eastern edge, and the Pacific Ocean
to the west.The formation of the rock mass, it makes the shoreline slope is very steep (Coloso, south of Antofagasta). The coastal edge of the city has volcanic sediments, in contrast to the formation of hills of sand. Stresses in the sea a rock formation called La Portada
.
Among the most important mountains of the geography of the town of Antofagasta is the Cerro El Ancla (1.007 m), el Cerro Chato (485 m), Cerro Moño (4.830 m), Cerro Coloso (938 m), Cerro Bolfín (961 m), Cerro Jarón (988 m), Cerro Alcalde Poblete (979 m), Cerro Gordo (668 m), Cerro Fortuna (963 m) and Cerro Moreno (1.290 m).
In the coastal area, the commune has two portions island called Isla Guamán (located in front of Caleta La Chimba, 23 ° 33'00 "S latitude and 70 ° 25'00" W longitude) and Isla Santa María (located in front of Caleta Constitución, 23 ° 26'00 "S latitude and 70 ° 37'00" W longitude).
that have watersheds
with accumulation of sand and gravel. Within the broader watershed (hoya) are the "Hoya La Chimba", "Hoya Caracoles", "Hoya La Cadena", "Hoya La Negra" and "Hoya El Way". These watersheds and their streams (Quebrada), such as "Quebrada sin nombre", "Quebrada Baquedano", "Quebrada El Toro", "Quebrada El Carrizo" and "Quebrada Jardines del Sur", which helped cause the flood of 1991.
The coastal edge of Antofagasta is rocky and steep, so there are no natural beaches, the majority being artificial. Just north of the city, natural beaches extend to the areas of "La Portada", "Las Losetas" and "La Rinconada".
Within the water resources of the commune, there are different dry lakes (salar), among which include the Salar de Pajonales, Salar Mar Muerto, Salar Punta Negra and the Salar de Navidad.
, headed by an alcalde
who is directly elected every four years. Currently the alcalde of the city is the Mrs. Marcela Hernando.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Antofagasta is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by Mr. Pedro Araya (PRI) and Mr. Manuel Rojas (UDI) as part of the 4th electoral district, (together with Mejillones
, Sierra Gorda
and Taltal
). The commune is represented in the Senate
by Carlos Cantero Ojeda (Ind.
) and José Antonio Gómez Urrutia (PRSD
) as part of the 2nd senatorial constituency (Antofagasta Region).
The township has three local police courts. In addition, the Municipality of Antofagasta has a number of municipal headquarters, which are entities created to meet and control certain community needs a more specific way.
Antofagasta's economic development is mainly based on copper
mining and nonmetallic minerals such as nitrate
and iodine
. It is also important port activity, although in recent years has lost the lead port in the region, due to the installation of the megaport of Mejillones
.
Antofagasta owns two major industrial
areas, one is located 20 km outside the urban area known as Ciudad Empresarial La Negra, a complex of approximately 2,400 hectares. There are refinery furnace copper industries in addition to cement, lime and other products. The second industrial area is located in the north of the city, where they have installed multiple operating centers of different companies, mainly along the "Pedro Aguirre Cerda Avenue."
Trade is concentrated mainly in the center of Antofagasta, around the Plaza Colón, where they are installed in the last 2 decades several national retail chains. Moreover, in different parts of the city have set up large supermarket chains like “Líder
” and “Jumbo”.
Recently in 2006, were also installed, the national chain " Mall Plaza" in the coastal area and the “Casino Enjoy Antofagasta” in the south of the city.
Because of the important administrative position of Antofagasta in the region, the historical relationship with the mining sector, and the production of the 54% of copper
at the national level, has become a hub for business tourism related to mining
, general industry
and machinery in both sectors.
Events are held annually with the assistance of several mining countries of the world, and one of the most important is "EXPONOR" organized by the "Asociación de Industriales Antofagasta", guild formed by the major copper producers in the region. Exponor is a show that promotes the gestation of chains, new business and exchanging knowledge and experiences among entrepreneurs from different countries of the world. This important trade fair generated a portfolio of U.S. $ 41,291 million (63.48% world total), for the period 2007-2015.
in Chile, and its residents on average earn more than the national average due to the mining hegemony in the region. Despite the economic crisis of 2009, Antofagasta has lower rates of unemployment
than the rest of the country.
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According to the 2002 census
of the National Statistics Institute
, Antofagasta had 296,905 inhabitants spread over an area of 30,718 km², of which 143,685 are women and 153,220 are men. In the commune, 295,792 (99.6%) lived in urban area
s and 1,113 (0.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 30.0% (68,497 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses. A recent population projection by the National Institute of Statistics of Chile in 2009, says the city has an estimated population of 360,473 inhabitants. The experts have estimated that in the next 10 years the city will reach 500 thousand inhabitants.
Its inhabitants are primarily Chilean, with significant Bolivia
n, Asia
n, Croatian
and Greek
minorities. In the last decade the black population has increased significantly, being mostly from Ecuador
and Colombia
. Also important is the number of temporary migrant workers coming from central and south of Chile, finding work in the mines near Antofagasta.
Throughout the history of Antofagasta, there has been only one occasion in which the population has decreased and it was during the decade 1930-40, when the population fell from 54,570 to 51,107 inhabitants. The main reason was the closure of the mining companies of salpeter in the interior of the province, forcing many families to leave the area and returning south.
, one that is public, University of Antofagasta, and other private, Catholic University of the North. Several private autonomous universities have been open since 2002. Previously, the now-defunct "University José Santos Ossa" was the only private autonomus university in Antofagasta.
Although the public schools are distributed almost uniformly throughout the city, and the private school
s operate mainly in the central and southern part of the city, where the wealthiest inhabitants reside. Only two private schools in the city are ranked among the top 100 schools in the country with the highest scores in the University Selection Test
, which are "Hrvatska Skola San Esteban" and "Antofagasta International School".
Antofagasta is the first city in Chile which has a municipal school operating within a military compound: "Recovery Center for Integrative Studies in Military Training", located within the Reinforced Regiment No. 20 "La Concepción".
Professional sport in Antofagasta began a slow process of disappearance in early 1990, due to financial problems, lack of support from the community, and inefficient management.
. Other football clubs of the city are the “Club Deportivo Ormazábal” and “Club Deportivo Unión Bellavista” which play in the Third Division A of Chile.
, different teams are formed and maintained in competition since the last century, and the selection of the city dispute the national classic game with the selection of Tocopilla
(historically the best team of baseball in Chile).
and the natural monument La Portada
.
Vehicular traffic is concentrated around the main avenues of the city due to the long and narrow shape of the urban area. The only avenue that crosses the city from north to south, corresponds to the coastal route known as "Avenida Costanera", which is formed by the avenues Jaime Guzmán, Ejército, República de Croacia, Grecia, José Manuel Balmaceda, Aníbal Pinto, 7º de Línea and Edmundo Pérez Zujovic; these avenues provide access to places like "Mall Plaza Antofagasta", the "Campus Coloso" of the University of Antofagasta, the city hall
of the Municipality of Antofagasta, among others.
is the only air terminal in Antofagasta and is located in Cerro Moreno, north of the city. This site, despite being classified as International Airport
, operates only as a terminal for national flights. In this terminal operates three domestic airlines, LAN Chile
, Principal Airlines and Sky Airlines
to many Chilean airports and also to Lima
, Perú
being the only international destination served by TACA Perú
.
The city also has a port
complex of seven docks
, inaugurated by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
on February 14, 1943 under the name of Puerto de Antofagasta, which consists of two terminals. Terminal 1, consists of the docks 1, 2 and 3, is multi-operator and is managed by the “Empresa Portuaria Antofagasta” (EPA) since July 1, 1998. Terminal No. 2, composed of docks 4, 5, 6 and 7, monooperario type, which is managed and operated by the company "Antofagasta Terminal Internacional" (ATI) since March 1, 2003. Overall, this tourist (member of the Association of Cruise Ports Southern Cone) and commercial port, can operate the production of 5,000,000 tons of cargo.
The Escondida
, which is the biggest private mining in Chile, has a private port located in southern city, near "Cerro Coloso".
The higher transportation consists of thirteen lines of minibus
es, which correspond to buses with a capacity of less than thirty people. The public transport
is within a tender and is known as TransAntofagasta. The public transport plan took effect officially on November 28, 2005, replacing the old bus service. The route of these buses finish in the Caleta Coloso (south end of the city) during the year, and during the summer come as far as "Balneario Juan Lopez", which is out of town.
The lower transport consists of taxi
s lines, corresponding to a black sedans that make their way through the urban area through fixed routes.
" (FCAB) founded in 1888, during the economic boom of the saltpeter
industry.
Unlike other contemporary mining railways, survived the market crash of natural nitrate and today provides a variety of transportation services, highlighting the transport of mining products and consumables such as copper cathodes and sulfuric acid
, through a network of 900 kilometers, which is connected with the Ferrocarril Andino de Bolivia, Ferronor (in Chile), and Ferrocarril Belgrano
in Argentina
.
Since 1980, the company was acquired by Antofagasta PLC
, which is part of the economic group Quiñenco.
. The project aims to decongest vehicular traffic causing problems at peak times, linking the north and south of the city with a direct train line.
, Oregon
, USA. Split, Croatia
. Tongling
, China
. Volos
, Greece
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, about 700 miles (1,126.5 km) north of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province
Antofagasta Province
Antofagasta Province is one of three provinces in the northern Chilean region of Antofagasta . The capital is the port city of Antofagasta. Located within the Atacama Desert, it borders the El Loa and Tocopilla provinces to the north, Bolivia to the west and the Atacama Region to the...
and Antofagasta Region
Antofagasta Region
The II Antofagasta Region is one of Chile's fifteen first-order administrative divisions. It comprises three provinces, Antofagasta, El Loa and Tocopilla...
. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905. However, a recent population projection by the National Institute of Statistics of Chile in 2009, says the city has an estimated population of 360,473 inhabitants.
The city of Antofagasta is closely linked to mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
activity, being a major mining area of the country. The last decade has been a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and remarkable skyline development.
History
Etymology
Currently there are several theories to explain the origin of the name Antofagasta. A clear consensus regarding the true origin of the word has not yet been determined.It is probably a compound word that comes from the southern Cacan
Cacán language
Cacán is an extinct language that was spoken by the Diaguita and Calchaquí tribes in northern Argentina and Chile. It became extinct during the late 17th century or early 18th century. The language was documented by the Jesuit Alonso de Bárcena, but the manuscript is lost...
"anto" (or "hattun", which means “Grande” –big-), "faya" (or “haya”, which means “salar”–dry lake
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
-) and "gasta" (meaning “pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
”), being a toponymy
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
meaning "Pueblo del Salar Grande" (“Town of the great salt lake”).
According to other theories, it may be a compound word from the Quechua word "anta" (meaning “cobre” –copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
-) and "Pakay" (meaning “esconder” –hidden-), being a toponymy meaning “Escondrijo del Cobre" (“Copper Cache"); could also be related to the Chango language, "Antofagasti" (meaning "Puerta del Sol"- Sun Gate-), how the changos called the current natural monument “La Portada
La Portada
La Portada is a natural arch on the coast of Chile, north of Antofagasta. It is one of fifteen natural monuments included among the protected areas of Chile....
”. However, it says the name Antofagasta is due to a decision by Manuel Mariano Melgarejo
Mariano Melgarejo
Manuel Mariano Melgarejo Valencia was the 19th President of Bolivia, from December 28, 1864, to January 15, 1871.-Early life:...
, who renamed the city in honor of a stay that had in Antofagasta de la Sierra
Antofagasta de la Sierra
Antofagasta de la Sierra is a volcanic field in Argentina. The main type of volcanic edifice in the area are scoria cones. The area contains the youngest vents in the whole of the Puna region of Argentina. It is considered by many authors that the cones in the field are only a few thousand years...
, in 1870.
In Chile, Antofagasta is known as “La Perla del Norte” (The Pearl of the North), for its historical and economic importance.
Early settlers
BoliviaBolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
during the government of Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana was President of Peru and Bolivia...
, in 1837, created the “Departamento del Litoral”, which was divided into two provinces: La Mar (with capital Cobija) and Atacama (with its capital in San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a Chilean town and commune in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It is located east of Antofagasta, some 106 km southeast of Calama and the Chuquicamata copper mine, overlooking the Licancabur volcano. It features a significant archeological museum, the R. P...
) and 1868, Antofagasta would be the capital of the province of Mejillones
Mejillones
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side...
.
On September 18, 1866, José Santos Ossa and Francisco Puelma achieved the award of the concession of nitrate
Nitrate
The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...
lands, following a request sent to the Bolivian government
Politics of Bolivia
The politics of Bolivia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...
. The exploring of the chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an miners found rich deposits of saltpeter
Saltpeter
Saltpeter or saltpetre often refers to:*Potassium nitrate, or the mineral niter, the critical oxidizing component of gunpowder, and a food preservative.It may also refer to:...
(nitrate) in the field of “Salar del Carmen”, to the east of the present Antofagasta. Agreed to form the “Sociedad Exploradora del Desierto de Atacama” (Explorer Society of Atacama Desert). After the formation of the company, began to fill with what was called “La Chimba”. On March 19, 1868, the “Melbourne Clark Company” was established, after the integration of Chilean and British capital.
After the earthquake in Iquique
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
and Cobija of August 13, 1868, it was necessary to give legal recognition to the Chimba as a mining town. On August 27, 1868, Bolivia's President Mariano Melgarejo
Mariano Melgarejo
Manuel Mariano Melgarejo Valencia was the 19th President of Bolivia, from December 28, 1864, to January 15, 1871.-Early life:...
instructed the Prefect of the Department of Litoral, the official founding of La Chimba, in the area bounded by the commissioners and Jose Santos Hilario Ruiz Prada. On October 22, 1868, the population was officially established and the port under the name La Chimba, as stated in the foundation charter. Later the city was renamed Antofagasta. The first official map of the population and the port of Antofagasta was designed by Jose Santos Prada in 14 September 1869. In this document, set out the grounds of the Melbourne Clark Company, plus 17 blocks and a the Main Square.
On May 8, 1871, Antofagasta was appointed by the Bolivian Government
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
as Puerto Mayor, open trade worldwide. Next year, on January 25, 1872, following a session led by the prefect of the Provincial Department of Mejillones
Mejillones
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side...
, Manuel Buitrago, founded the Municipality of Antofagasta under Bolivian law of Municipalities, which formed the body of “Municipal Agents”, composed of two Germans, one English and six Chileans.
On November 27, 1873, the "Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta" signed a contract with the government of Bolivia, in which taxes were removed from mineral exploitation for 15 years. This contract was not ratified by the Congress of Bolivia, which was then analyzed negotiations with Chile.
War of the Pacific
In 1873 Bolivia signed a secret treaty of defensive alliance with Peru. This would be used as an argument 5 years later in Chile, when it unleashed the War of the PacificWar of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
. The secret alliance, forbade Bolivia from signing a border treaty with Chile, without consulting with Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. However, in 1874 Chile and Bolivia signed a border treaty, which replaced the previous treaty of 1866. One of its points was not to impose new taxes on individuals, industries and Chilean capital for 25 years.
For Bolivia, the contract of 1873 between the government and "Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarriles de Antofagasta" was not yet in force, because, according to the Bolivian constitution, all contracts with the Bolivian government had to be approved by Congress.
According to the Bolivian version of events, the contract with the company of saltpeter
Saltpeter
Saltpeter or saltpetre often refers to:*Potassium nitrate, or the mineral niter, the critical oxidizing component of gunpowder, and a food preservative.It may also refer to:...
was incomplete so the congress, to approve the contract, decided to enforce a tax of 10 cents, which did not violate the treaty of 1874, since the contract was not yet in force at that date. Bolivia suspended the tax in deference to the government of Chile, but following a note from the Chilean foreign minister, it reactivated the tax law, then cancelled and closed the “Compañía de Salitres”. Faced with a looming conflict with Chile, Bolivia decided to claim support under the agreement signed with Peru, and the treaty became effective with the Chilean occupation of Antofagasta, on February 14, 1879.
According to the Chilean version of events, the tax of 10 cents violated the treaty of 1874 since according to this, new taxes should not have been imposed on Chilean companies operating in Bolivia. At the breaking of the boundary treaty by Bolivia, and the cancellation of the contract of the “Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarriles de Antofagasta”, Chile seized Antofagasta, then in Bolivian territory, whose sovereignty had been ratified before 1866. After the war, a pact of truce was signed between Bolivia and Chile in 1884, which stated that the territory between the Loa River
Loa River
The Loa River is a U-shaped river in Chile's northern Antofagasta Region. At 440 km long it is the country's longest river and the main watercourse in the Atacama Desert.-Course:...
and parallel 23 would be under the administration of Chile, while Bolivia would be allowed access to the ports of Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
and Antofagasta. However, both treaties left outstanding issues to be clarified in two subsequent treaties, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Chile and Bolivia in 1904 and the 1929 Treaty of Lima in Peru.
20th century
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Chile and Bolivia, signed on October 20, 1904, and promulgated on March 21, 1905, established in perpetuity border between Chile and Bolivia. The territory of Antofagasta was definitely within Chile's borders but in return Chile agreed to build a railroad that would link the cities of AricaArica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
and La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, Bolivia was granted free movement of commerce through Chilean territory. With this, Bolivia finally recognized the permanent Chilean sovereignty over the disputed territory previously. However, this treaty has been a constant source of diplomatic tensions between both countries during the twentieth and early twenty-first century, because Bolivia lost all sovereignty over the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
In 1905, the city of Antofagasta began construction of sewers, because of existing outbreaks of bubonic plague and smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. The same year was ordered, so unsatisfactory, the closure of public places, in order to prevent the spread of disease.
On February 1, 1906, the railway workers union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of the "Ferrocarril Antofagasta a Bolivia" called for a readjustment of working hours, which was rejected. For this reason, on 6 February, from more than 3,000 workers went on strike, marching in protest to the Plaza Colon (main square). The army opened fire on protesters, killing 58 people. The fact is known as the "Massacre of Plaza Colon".
In 1937, the Municipality of Antofagasta made a national call for the composition of Antofagasta's anthem. Antonio Rendic, famous physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the city, and Juan Bautista Quagliotto, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, claimed the right to compose the lyrics and music, respectively. On February 2, 1948, the Mayor Juan de Dios Carmona proposed in an open session in the hall of the Municipality, the establishment of February 14 as the day of the celebration of Antofagasta, despite not being the real founding date. Later, after the popular approval, the council approved the date.
In 1956 was created the Universidad del Norte (now the Catholic University of the North), due to support from the Catholic University of Valparaiso. On October 9, of the same year began the negotiations for the creation of the "Centro Universitario Zona Norte" (University Center North Zone), part of the University of Chile. In 1968 was inaugurated the Antofagasta center of the University of Chile, after a university reform agreement which meant the autonomy of the University Center North Zone. Finally in 1981, merging the offices of the University of Chile and Technical State University, giving rise to the University of Antofagasta.
The barrage of Antofagasta, registered on June 18, 1991, devastated much of the city, undermining land, damaged 2464 houses and destroyed 493 buildings, all this resulting in material damage on the occasion were estimated at approximately $ 70,000,000. The disaster left a toll of 92 dead, 16 missing and about 20,000 homeless. On July 30, 1995, the city was hit by an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale, with an intensity VII to VIII on the Mercalli Scale. Although the fatal balance accounted three people dead and hundred injured, structural damage was minor for the magnitude of the event.
Decade of growth
Beginning in the late 1990s1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, and during the last decade, Antofagasta has had one of the highest increases in urban and economic development in Chile.
The construction industry has had remarkable growth as seen in the many recently constructed tall buildings, the extension of the urban area to the north of the city, and different urban projects as the renovation of the entire Costanera Avenue, and walkways of the city center. In economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, settled many retail chains and supermarkets as well as various high-quality hotel chains, which promoted business tourism to attract capital and trading partners in mining and port activity. Similarly, the city was awarded the installation of the Casino Enjoy Antofagasta.
In the municipal elections of 2008, the first woman mayor of the city was elected, Dra. Marcela Hernando, who retired from her political party to run as an Independent. This allowed her to have diverse support from all sectors of the population of Antofagasta.
Experts have estimated that in the next 10 years the city will reach 500 thousand inhabitants.
Geography
The city is located at 23°38′39"S 70°24′39"W, with an average elevation of 40 m (131 ft).The urban area of Antofagasta begins abruptly, breaking the monotony of the desert
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is a plateau in South America, covering a strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes mountains. It is, according to NASA, National Geographic and many other publications, the driest desert in the world...
and is located in the coastal plains, south of the “Peninsula of Mejillones
Mejillones
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side...
” and north of “Cerro Coloso”. The Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
passes in the north of the city, outside the urban area, which is located the Cerro Moreno International Airport
Cerro Moreno International Airport
Cerro Moreno International Airport is an airport in Antofagasta, Chile. It is located north of Antofagasta.- Destinations :...
. For this reason on December 21, 2000, was opened the Tropic of Capricorn Monument
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
.
Antofagasta was declared a partial common in the border area July 20, 1999, by Supreme Decree No. 1166 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The city has little vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
because it is situated in the Atacama Desert
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is a plateau in South America, covering a strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes mountains. It is, according to NASA, National Geographic and many other publications, the driest desert in the world...
, which is the world's driest desert.
Climatology
The town of Antofagasta has a desert climateDesert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
, of four types present throughout the region, which vary according to altitude. In the coastal plain (where is located the city) is a desert climate with abundant cloudiness
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
(BWN
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
), and beyond the Chilean Coast Range
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...
, is a more typical desert climate (BWK), with an average annual mean temperature between 18° and 28°C.
The marked aridity and water scarcity are regulated by the Humboldt Current
Humboldt Current
The Humboldt Current , also known as the Peru Current, is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north-westward along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru. It is an eastern boundary current flowing in the direction of the equator, and can extend...
, addition to the high humidity and morning fog known as camanchaca. Furthermore, the Pacific anticyclone generates winds from the south and southwest. All this means mild and stable temperatures for most of the year.
The average annual temperature is 17 °C (62.6 °F). The average daily low temperature in the warmest month, February, is 17 °C (62.6 °F) while the average daily high temperature is 23 °C (73.4 °F). The coldest month, July, sees an average low temperature of 12 °C (53.6 °F) and an average high temperature of 16 °C (60.8 °F). The highest temperature recorded is 31 °C (87.8 °F) and the lowest recorded is 5 °C (41 °F).
The Atacama Desert coast is subjected to a climate of extreme aridity, therefore generates a low average annual rainfall of 4 mm (1904–1998). However, the sporadic occurrence of heavy rainfall, together with the geomorphologic situation of the city, making it susceptible to be affected by mud flows and landslides. Between 1916 and 1999, the city was affected by floods or landslides on seven occasions: 1925, 1930, twice in 1940, 1982, 1987 and 1991, of which the most important episodes in 1940 and 1991.
Geomorphology
Antofagasta is grounded on rocky ground, hard and tough. Over this layer is a dense soil with sand and medium-sized rock fragments where there are remains abundant mineral. According to the general classification of soils, Antofagasta is founded on clay loam soils of the type I and II.The city has an irregular geomorphology by the presence of steep hills (400–500 m) that are part of Chilean Coast Range
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...
, in its eastern edge, and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the west.The formation of the rock mass, it makes the shoreline slope is very steep (Coloso, south of Antofagasta). The coastal edge of the city has volcanic sediments, in contrast to the formation of hills of sand. Stresses in the sea a rock formation called La Portada
La Portada
La Portada is a natural arch on the coast of Chile, north of Antofagasta. It is one of fifteen natural monuments included among the protected areas of Chile....
.
Among the most important mountains of the geography of the town of Antofagasta is the Cerro El Ancla (1.007 m), el Cerro Chato (485 m), Cerro Moño (4.830 m), Cerro Coloso (938 m), Cerro Bolfín (961 m), Cerro Jarón (988 m), Cerro Alcalde Poblete (979 m), Cerro Gordo (668 m), Cerro Fortuna (963 m) and Cerro Moreno (1.290 m).
In the coastal area, the commune has two portions island called Isla Guamán (located in front of Caleta La Chimba, 23 ° 33'00 "S latitude and 70 ° 25'00" W longitude) and Isla Santa María (located in front of Caleta Constitución, 23 ° 26'00 "S latitude and 70 ° 37'00" W longitude).
Hydrology
There are about fifteen streamsSTREAMS
In computer networking, STREAMS is the native framework in Unix System V for implementing character devices.STREAMS was designed as a modular architecture for implementing full-duplex I/O between kernel or user space processes and device drivers. Its most frequent uses have been in developing...
that have watersheds
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
with accumulation of sand and gravel. Within the broader watershed (hoya) are the "Hoya La Chimba", "Hoya Caracoles", "Hoya La Cadena", "Hoya La Negra" and "Hoya El Way". These watersheds and their streams (Quebrada), such as "Quebrada sin nombre", "Quebrada Baquedano", "Quebrada El Toro", "Quebrada El Carrizo" and "Quebrada Jardines del Sur", which helped cause the flood of 1991.
The coastal edge of Antofagasta is rocky and steep, so there are no natural beaches, the majority being artificial. Just north of the city, natural beaches extend to the areas of "La Portada", "Las Losetas" and "La Rinconada".
Within the water resources of the commune, there are different dry lakes (salar), among which include the Salar de Pajonales, Salar Mar Muerto, Salar Punta Negra and the Salar de Navidad.
Administration
As a commune, Antofagasta is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
, headed by an alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
who is directly elected every four years. Currently the alcalde of the city is the Mrs. Marcela Hernando.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Antofagasta is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
by Mr. Pedro Araya (PRI) and Mr. Manuel Rojas (UDI) as part of the 4th electoral district, (together with Mejillones
Mejillones
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side...
, Sierra Gorda
Sierra Gorda
The Sierra Gorda is an ecological region centered on the northern third of the state of Querétaro and extending into the neighboring states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí...
and Taltal
Taltal
Taltal is a Chilean commune and city in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 11,000 and has an area of ....
). The commune is represented in the Senate
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
by Carlos Cantero Ojeda (Ind.
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
) and José Antonio Gómez Urrutia (PRSD
Social Democrat Radical Party
The Social Democratic Radical Party is a social democratic party in Chile.The party is a member of Socialist International....
) as part of the 2nd senatorial constituency (Antofagasta Region).
The township has three local police courts. In addition, the Municipality of Antofagasta has a number of municipal headquarters, which are entities created to meet and control certain community needs a more specific way.
Economy
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mining and nonmetallic minerals such as nitrate
Nitrate
The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...
and iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
. It is also important port activity, although in recent years has lost the lead port in the region, due to the installation of the megaport of Mejillones
Mejillones
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side...
.
Antofagasta owns two major industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
areas, one is located 20 km outside the urban area known as Ciudad Empresarial La Negra, a complex of approximately 2,400 hectares. There are refinery furnace copper industries in addition to cement, lime and other products. The second industrial area is located in the north of the city, where they have installed multiple operating centers of different companies, mainly along the "Pedro Aguirre Cerda Avenue."
Trade is concentrated mainly in the center of Antofagasta, around the Plaza Colón, where they are installed in the last 2 decades several national retail chains. Moreover, in different parts of the city have set up large supermarket chains like “Líder
Líder
Líder is a Chilean hypermarket chain originally owned and operated by Distribución y Servicio but sold to American Wal-Mart in 2009.-Overview:...
” and “Jumbo”.
Recently in 2006, were also installed, the national chain " Mall Plaza" in the coastal area and the “Casino Enjoy Antofagasta” in the south of the city.
Business Tourism
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
at the national level, has become a hub for business tourism related to mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, general industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
and machinery in both sectors.
Events are held annually with the assistance of several mining countries of the world, and one of the most important is "EXPONOR" organized by the "Asociación de Industriales Antofagasta", guild formed by the major copper producers in the region. Exponor is a show that promotes the gestation of chains, new business and exchanging knowledge and experiences among entrepreneurs from different countries of the world. This important trade fair generated a portfolio of U.S. $ 41,291 million (63.48% world total), for the period 2007-2015.
Cost of living
This city is considered the most expensive to live in Chile, next to Santiago and Punta Arenas. It is also considered one of the cities whose population has higher purchasing powerPurchasing power
Purchasing power is the number of goods/services that can be purchased with a unit of currency. For example, if you had taken one dollar to a store in the 1950s, you would have been able to buy a greater number of items than you would today, indicating that you would have had a greater purchasing...
in Chile, and its residents on average earn more than the national average due to the mining hegemony in the region. Despite the economic crisis of 2009, Antofagasta has lower rates of unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
than the rest of the country.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the National Statistics Institute
National Statistics Institute (Chile)
The National Statistics Institute of Chile is a state-run organization of the Government of Chile, created in the second half of the 19th century and tasked with performing a general census of population and housing, then collecting, producing and publishing official demographic statistics of...
, Antofagasta had 296,905 inhabitants spread over an area of 30,718 km², of which 143,685 are women and 153,220 are men. In the commune, 295,792 (99.6%) lived in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s and 1,113 (0.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 30.0% (68,497 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses. A recent population projection by the National Institute of Statistics of Chile in 2009, says the city has an estimated population of 360,473 inhabitants. The experts have estimated that in the next 10 years the city will reach 500 thousand inhabitants.
Its inhabitants are primarily Chilean, with significant Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
and Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
minorities. In the last decade the black population has increased significantly, being mostly from Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Also important is the number of temporary migrant workers coming from central and south of Chile, finding work in the mines near Antofagasta.
Throughout the history of Antofagasta, there has been only one occasion in which the population has decreased and it was during the decade 1930-40, when the population fell from 54,570 to 51,107 inhabitants. The main reason was the closure of the mining companies of salpeter in the interior of the province, forcing many families to leave the area and returning south.
Education
The city has several public and private educational universities. Two major traditional universitiesChilean Traditional Universities
In Chile, the term universidades tradicionales is used to denote the group of universities founded before the 1980s. This term usually includes derivative universities, which are not really traditional but were derived from traditional ones...
, one that is public, University of Antofagasta, and other private, Catholic University of the North. Several private autonomous universities have been open since 2002. Previously, the now-defunct "University José Santos Ossa" was the only private autonomus university in Antofagasta.
Although the public schools are distributed almost uniformly throughout the city, and the private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s operate mainly in the central and southern part of the city, where the wealthiest inhabitants reside. Only two private schools in the city are ranked among the top 100 schools in the country with the highest scores in the University Selection Test
Prueba de Selección Universitaria
The University Selection Test or, as it is more commonly referred to, PSU, is a standardized university admissions examination used in Chile. It replaced in 2003 the Prueba de Aptitud Académica which had been working on since 1966....
, which are "Hrvatska Skola San Esteban" and "Antofagasta International School".
Antofagasta is the first city in Chile which has a municipal school operating within a military compound: "Recovery Center for Integrative Studies in Military Training", located within the Reinforced Regiment No. 20 "La Concepción".
Sport
Football
In Antofagasta, the most popular sport is soccer. The football club “Deportes Antofagasta” is part of the Chilean First Division B (although played two periods in the First División of Professional Football), and plays its home matches at Antofagasta Regional StadiumEstadio Regional de Antofagasta
Estadio Regional de Antofagasta is a multi-use stadium in Antofagasta, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Club de Deportes Antofagasta. The stadium holds 26,339 people and was built in 1964....
. Other football clubs of the city are the “Club Deportivo Ormazábal” and “Club Deportivo Unión Bellavista” which play in the Third Division A of Chile.
Other Sports
In Antofagasta played other sports but are less popular. In baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, different teams are formed and maintained in competition since the last century, and the selection of the city dispute the national classic game with the selection of Tocopilla
Tocopilla
Tocopilla is a city and commune in the Antofagasta Region, in the north of Chile. It is the capital of the province that bears the same name.Tocopilla celebrates its anniversary on September 29 every year with a big show the day before, which includes a parade down the main street of the city, food...
(historically the best team of baseball in Chile).
Transportation
Routes and Avenues
The main land route connectivity in the province is the Route 5-CH, route which connects the city with the rest of the country and is part of the Panamerican Highway. This route connects to the city by the Route CH-26 in the north of the city, and the Route CH-28 at the south entrance. In addition, the city is connected to the north of the country by Route 1-CH, the way that also allows access to Cerro Moreno International AirportCerro Moreno International Airport
Cerro Moreno International Airport is an airport in Antofagasta, Chile. It is located north of Antofagasta.- Destinations :...
and the natural monument La Portada
La Portada
La Portada is a natural arch on the coast of Chile, north of Antofagasta. It is one of fifteen natural monuments included among the protected areas of Chile....
.
Vehicular traffic is concentrated around the main avenues of the city due to the long and narrow shape of the urban area. The only avenue that crosses the city from north to south, corresponds to the coastal route known as "Avenida Costanera", which is formed by the avenues Jaime Guzmán, Ejército, República de Croacia, Grecia, José Manuel Balmaceda, Aníbal Pinto, 7º de Línea and Edmundo Pérez Zujovic; these avenues provide access to places like "Mall Plaza Antofagasta", the "Campus Coloso" of the University of Antofagasta, the city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of the Municipality of Antofagasta, among others.
Airport and Port
Cerro Moreno International AirportCerro Moreno International Airport
Cerro Moreno International Airport is an airport in Antofagasta, Chile. It is located north of Antofagasta.- Destinations :...
is the only air terminal in Antofagasta and is located in Cerro Moreno, north of the city. This site, despite being classified as International Airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
, operates only as a terminal for national flights. In this terminal operates three domestic airlines, LAN Chile
LAN Airlines
LAN Airlines S.A. is an airline based in Santiago, Chile. LAN is currently positioned amongst the largest airlines in Latin America, serving Latin America, United States, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe. It is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance...
, Principal Airlines and Sky Airlines
Sky Airlines
Sky Airlines is an airline which operates chartered flights. It is based in Antalya, Turkey, operating on behalf of tour operators on short and medium haul routes into Turkey. The company was established in 2000 and started operations in 2001. It is wholly owned to by Kayi Group...
to many Chilean airports and also to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
being the only international destination served by TACA Perú
TACA Peru
TACA Peru is an airline based in Lima, Peru. It operates domestic services and international services. Its main base is Jorge Chávez International Airport , Lima. The airline operates out of 18 airports. It is part of Grupo TACA and operates its flights with TACA's codes.- History :The airline was...
.
The city also has a port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
complex of seven docks
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
, inaugurated by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
on February 14, 1943 under the name of Puerto de Antofagasta, which consists of two terminals. Terminal 1, consists of the docks 1, 2 and 3, is multi-operator and is managed by the “Empresa Portuaria Antofagasta” (EPA) since July 1, 1998. Terminal No. 2, composed of docks 4, 5, 6 and 7, monooperario type, which is managed and operated by the company "Antofagasta Terminal Internacional" (ATI) since March 1, 2003. Overall, this tourist (member of the Association of Cruise Ports Southern Cone) and commercial port, can operate the production of 5,000,000 tons of cargo.
The Escondida
Escondida
Minera Escondida, which means 'hidden' in Spanish, is a mining company that operates two open pit copper mines in the Atacama Desert, 170 km southeast of Antofagasta in northern Chile. It is currently the highest producing copper mine in the world...
, which is the biggest private mining in Chile, has a private port located in southern city, near "Cerro Coloso".
Public Transport
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
es, which correspond to buses with a capacity of less than thirty people. The public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
is within a tender and is known as TransAntofagasta. The public transport plan took effect officially on November 28, 2005, replacing the old bus service. The route of these buses finish in the Caleta Coloso (south end of the city) during the year, and during the summer come as far as "Balneario Juan Lopez", which is out of town.
The lower transport consists of taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s lines, corresponding to a black sedans that make their way through the urban area through fixed routes.
Railways
The most important railroad town is the "Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a BoliviaFerrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia
The Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia is a private railway operating in the northern provinces of Chile. It is notable in that it was one of the earliest railways built to the gauge of , with a route that climbed from sea level to over , while handling goods traffic totaling near 2 million tons...
" (FCAB) founded in 1888, during the economic boom of the saltpeter
Saltpeter
Saltpeter or saltpetre often refers to:*Potassium nitrate, or the mineral niter, the critical oxidizing component of gunpowder, and a food preservative.It may also refer to:...
industry.
Unlike other contemporary mining railways, survived the market crash of natural nitrate and today provides a variety of transportation services, highlighting the transport of mining products and consumables such as copper cathodes and sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
, through a network of 900 kilometers, which is connected with the Ferrocarril Andino de Bolivia, Ferronor (in Chile), and Ferrocarril Belgrano
Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano
Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano , named after the Argentine politician and military leader Manuel Belgrano, was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Since 1980, the company was acquired by Antofagasta PLC
Antofagasta plc
Antofagasta plc is a Chilean business that operates in various sectors of the economy. It is one of the most important conglomerates of Chile with equity participation in Antofagasta Minerals, the railroad from Antofagasta to Bolivia, Aguas Antofagasta in Chile, Tethian in Australia and other...
, which is part of the economic group Quiñenco.
Future commuter rail
Due to the fastest urban and demographic growth of Antofagasta over the last decade, is currently under study and discuss the implementation of a commuter train, using the current line of Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a BoliviaFerrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia
The Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia is a private railway operating in the northern provinces of Chile. It is notable in that it was one of the earliest railways built to the gauge of , with a route that climbed from sea level to over , while handling goods traffic totaling near 2 million tons...
. The project aims to decongest vehicular traffic causing problems at peak times, linking the north and south of the city with a direct train line.
Twin towns — Sister cities
The city of Antofagasta has signed protocols of Town twinning with: CorvallisCorvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, USA. Split, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Tongling
Tongling
Tongling is a prefecture-level city in southern Anhui province, People's Republic of China. A river port along the Yangtze River, Tongling borders Chaohu to the north, Wuhu to the east, Chizhou to the southwest and Anqing to the west....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Volos
Volos
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....