Tarapacá Region
Encyclopedia
The I Tarapacá Region is one of Chile
's 15 first order administrative division
s. It borders the Chile
an Arica and Parinacota Region to the north, Bolivia
's Oruro Department
on the east, the Antofagasta Region
on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The port city of Iquique
(2002 pop. 216,419) is the region's capital.
Much of the region was once a Peru
vian province, which was annexed by Chile under the 1883 Treaty of Ancón
at the close of the War of the Pacific
. The region was important economically as a site of intense saltpeter
mining, before synthetic nitrate manufacturing became possible. A number of abandoned mining towns can still be found in the region.
The present day Tarapacá Region was created in 2007 by subdividing the former Tarapacá Region under Law 20.175, which was signed by President
Michelle Bachelet
in Arica
.
, who is assigned by the president. Each of the region's two provinces are further subdivided into communes.
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...
's 15 first order administrative division
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
s. It borders 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 Arica and Parinacota Region to the north, 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...
's Oruro Department
Oruro Department
Oruro is a department in Bolivia, with an area of 53,588 km². Its capital is the city of Oruro. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 391,870.- Provinces of Oruro :...
on the east, the 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...
on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The port city of 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...
(2002 pop. 216,419) is the region's capital.
Much of the region was once a Peru
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....
vian province, which was annexed by Chile under the 1883 Treaty of Ancón
Treaty of Ancón
The Treaty of Ancón was signed by Chile and Peru on 20 October 1883, in the Ancón District near Lima. It was intended to settle the two nations' remaining territorial differences at the conclusion of their involvement in the War of the Pacific and to stabilise post-bellum relations between...
at the close of the War of the Pacific
War 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 region was important economically as a site of intense 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:...
mining, before synthetic nitrate manufacturing became possible. A number of abandoned mining towns can still be found in the region.
The present day Tarapacá Region was created in 2007 by subdividing the former Tarapacá Region under Law 20.175, which was signed by President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Social Democrat politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She was the first woman president of her country...
in Arica
Arica, Chile
Arica is a commune and a port city with a population of 185,269 in the Arica Province of northern Chile's Arica and Parinacota Region, located only south of the border with Peru. The city is the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica and Parinacota Region...
.
Administration
The government of the region resides in the intendantIntendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
, who is assigned by the president. Each of the region's two provinces are further subdivided into communes.
| Province Provinces of Chile A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total.... |
Capital | Commune | Other towns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iquique Iquique Province Iquique Province is one of two provinces in the northern Chilean region of Tarapacá . Its capital is the port city of Iquique.-History:Until October 2007, the Province of Iquique was composed of 7 communes: High Hospice, Camina, Colchane, Huara, Iquique, Pica and Pozo Almonte, but since then, with... |
Iquique | Iquique | |
| Alto Hospicio | |||
| Tamarugal | Pozo Almonte | Huara | Pisagua Pisagua Pisagua is a Chilean port on the Pacific Ocean, located in Huara comuna , in Tarapacá Region, northern Chile. In 2007, the new province of El Tamarugal was established and the comuna of Huara, previously within the province of Iquique, was incorporated to the newly created province.-Early... |
| Alto Hospicio | |||
| Camiña Camiña Camiña is a Chilean commune and village in El Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 1,275 and has an area of .-Demographics:... |
|||
| Colchane | |||
| Pica Pica, Chile Pica is a Chilean town and commune in Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region. Situated in the inland of the Atacama Desert on an oasis, Pica is famous for its small and unusually acidic lemons. The town has a communal spring with a surface temperature of 40 °C, which makes it a popular bath place in... |
|||
| Pozo Almonte | Mamiña Mamiña Mamiña is a small village located east from Iquique at 2800 metres above sea level in the foothills of Los Andes Mountain range in northern Chile. Famous for its many hot springs that reach surface at 70 Cº, which are claimed to be beneficial for skin and bones. It has some hotels and hostels and... |
Climate
A desert climate dominates the region. Near the coast, cloudiness can limit the temperature swing throughout the day, but in other drier areas, temperatures can vary greatly as is typical in deserts. A marginal desert region can be found over 3000 m (9,843 ft) above sea level, which sees milder temperatures and summer rains.Main economic activities
- Fishing
- Tourism
- Mining
- Cerro Colorado
- Collahuasi