Atacama Region

The Atacama is the Region III in Chile ( South America). It is located in the region of the Atacama Desert and is relatively sparsely populated. The main cities are:

  • Copiapo, 129 281 inhabitants ( 2005)
  • Vallenar, 48,000 inhabitants (2003 )
  • Caldera, 14,000 inhabitants (2003 )
  • Chañaral 12,500 inhabitants (2003 )

The Region III has several National Parks and other natural reserves:

  • Nevado Tres Cruces National Park in the northeastern region in the Andean region
  • National Park Llanos de Challe north of Vallenar
  • Pan de Azucar National Park on the northern border region
  • Reserva Nacional de Humboldt pingüino in the south on the Pacific Coast

In the region are the highest mountains of Chile, the Ojos del Salado ( 6,893 m), Cerro Tres Cruces ( 6,753 m) and the Incahuasi ( 6,621 m). The highest point in Chile is Ojos del Salado with the extinct volcano. It is located in the National Park Nevado Tres Cruces.

History

The Atacama has been settled, despite their lack of water early on. The people of the Atacama, the Aymara, the Chinchorros and Diaguitas lived around the sparse oases.

After that, the area was part of the Inca Empire. In 1536 conquistador Diego de Almagro reached first the area around Copiapo. After the collapse of the Inca rule, the desert came under Spanish rule. The struggle for independence of the South American States dropped the Atacama, Bolivia.

1832 was discovered a large silver deposit in Chañarcillo (50 km south of Copiapó ), which Chile was for decades one of the largest silver producers in the world. 1916 began the exploitation of copper deposits in Potrerillos.

After the guided around the rich nitrate deposits in the desert Salpeter (1879-1884), the Chile with British encouragement and help against Peru and Bolivia decided in his favor, Chile was able to expand its territory at the expense of Peru and Bolivia considerably to the north. The loss of access to the Pacific Ocean is today a major diplomatic conflict point between Chile and Bolivia dar. By the saltpeter was today Región de Atacama the northernmost province of Chile.

Infrastructure

For air transport, the region is being developed by the Aeropuerto Desierto de Atacama near Caldera.

Caldera (Chile) Andes Aymara people Huasco
191670
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