Happy TravellerWelcome to Antofagasta, a bustling port city located in the northern region of Chile. With a population of over 400,000 people, Antofagasta is the capital of both the Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. The city has a rich history, having been at the center of the War of the Pacific in the late 19th century. Today, Antofagasta is closely linked to mining activity, being a port and the chief service hub for one of Chile’s major mining areas. While silver and saltpeter mining have been historically important for Antofagasta, since the mid-19th century copper mining is by far the most important mining activity for Antofagasta fueling a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and a remarkable skyline development until the end of the 2000s commodities boom in 2013. Since the 2010s Antofagasta is also a service hub for lithium mining. Antofagasta has the highest GDP per capita of Chile, US$37,000 and the 3rd place for Human Development Index just after Metropolitana de Santiago Region and Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region.
History:
Antofagasta has a fascinating history, having been at the center of the War of the Pacific in the late 19th century. After the Spanish American wars of independence, Bolivia claimed Antofagasta as part of its territory. Despite having an overwhelmingly ethnic Chilean population, Chile recognised Bolivian sovereignty of Antofagasta in 1866, but in 1879 Chile recanted its recognition of Bolivian sovereignty citing a Bolivian breach of the latest boundary treaty. Antofagasta was captured by Chile on February 14, 1879, triggering the War of the Pacific (1879–83). Chilean sovereignty was officially recognised by Bolivia under the terms of the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Name:
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 anto (or hattun, which means big), faya (or haya, which means dry lake) and gasta (meaning pueblo), being a toponymy meaning Town of the great salt lake. According to other theories, it may be a compound word from the Quechua word anta (meaning copper) and Pakay (meaning hidden), being a toponymy meaning Copper Cache; it could also be related to the Chango language, Antofagasti (meaning Sun Gate), what the changos called the current natural monument La Portada. However, it is said the name Antofagasta is due to a decision by Manuel Mariano Melgarejo, who renamed the city in honor of an estancia that he 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.
Geography:
The city of Antofagasta is located in the coastal plains, south of Mejillones Peninsula 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. The Tropic of Capricorn Monument was opened on 21 December 2000 in celebration of this. Designed by the architect Eleonora Roman, it was created to point the Tropic of Capricorn and to work as a Solar Calendar. Antofagasta was declared a partial common in the border area 20 July 1999, by Supreme Decree No. 1166 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Attractions:
Antofagasta has a number of attractions that are worth visiting. One of the most popular is the La Portada Natural Monument, a stunning rock formation that rises out of the sea. The monument is located just a short drive from the city center and is a popular spot for photography. Another popular attraction is the Huanchaca Ruins, which date back to the 19th century and offer a glimpse into the city’s mining history. For those interested in local culture, the Antofagasta Regional Museum is a must-visit. The
