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San Pedro de Atacama
Considered the Archaeological Capital of Chile and declared a Zona
Típica (Typical Zone). It was the heart of the Atacama or Likanantai
culture, with a fortress in Quitor and a population, divided into
"ayllos" (tiny villages), that distributed the farmland
among them and channeled water from the Río Grande. Later on,
the area was taken over by the Incas and an Administrative Center
and government were established. Diego de Almagro visited the area
during the time of its discovery as well as Pedro de Valdivia in the
years of the Spanish Conquest. It is a humble town with narrow streets
and adobe constructions. The main attractions are the Church and the
Padre Le Paige Archaeological Museum, jesuit missionary that lived
in the region from 1955 until he passed away in 1980. Some of the
highlights within the town are the ceramic objects from different
evolutionary stages, gold figures, and mummies.
Valle de la Luna
Spectacular lunar landscape that is part of the Salt Mountain Chain
and belongs to Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is a small depression
of saline soil, 500 m (1,640 ft) in diameter, and displays intriguing
sculptured shapes that are a result of the successive transformations
of the earth's crust, occurrences from folds in the salt bed's marshy
interior. There is no sign of life in this corner of the world,
nor is their humidity. These characteristics combined make this
the most barren place on the planet.
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Tatio Geysers
In the middle of a breathtaking and arid landscape, the Tatio Geysers
is a geothermal field of volcanic origin, where water and vapor
erupt violently from the depths of the Earth. They are located more
than 4,000 m (13,120 ft) above sea level, which contributes to the
low temperatures during the morning hours, time of day when the
fountains of boiling water shoot up. The geysers are at their peak
between 5:30 and 7:00 in the morning, when spouts can easily reach
10 meters (33 ft). There are natural thermal pools nearby where
one can enjoy a hot bath.
Pukará de Turi
Largest citadel of the Atacama culture. Constructed in the 12th
century, over a flat platform, this fortress consists of plazas,
straight roads and mostly rectangular houses with affixed silos.
The design is larger than that of Lasana and was built using hard,
volcanic rock. Pukara's population dissipated in the second half
of the 15th century, after Spanish occupation.
Chuquicamata Mines
Chuquicamata means "spearhead" in the aborigine language.
According to studies, the mine was already operating during the
time of the Incas. At the end of the 19th century, the mines were
run by North American companies, until 1971, when an amendment pronounced
the nationality of the mined copper. During the visit you are able
to see the Global Electromechanical Shovel, the largest in the world,
as well as the "cakes", enormous hills of gathered rocks
without any metal content that are extracted from the mines.
Visit to the Saltpeter Refineries
Saltpeter or natural niter has held first place among the country's
non-metallic minerals throughout the history of Chile. It was used
by Atacamans and Quechuas as an agricultural fertilizer for potato
and corn crops. The Chacabuco Saltpeter Refinery Office was built
between 1922 and 1924 and permanently halted all activities in 1940.
In 1971, it was declared a National Monument, as a way of conserving
the testimony to the industrial development of saltpeter in Chile
and the way of life during that time.
The community of María Elena is in and of itself a living
part of the history of the refineries. Maintained in this community
is a traditional architectural lineage of the saltpeter towns that
have been deserted. The community's name was given by Elias Anton
Cappelen, first administrator of this refinery, in honor of his
wife "Mary Helen or María Elena". It was inaugurated
in 1924 and declared a National Monument in 1996.
The history of the Pedro de Valdivia Saltpeter Refinery begins earlier.
In the year, 1911, Guggenheim Brothers bought Chuquicamata and developed
the gigantic copper mine, under the leadership of engineer Elías
Anton Cappelens Smith. During more than a decade, Cappelens studied
the technology of the saltpeter industry and designed a new method
for extracting and purifying the sodium nitrate. It was patented
as the Guggenheim System. The office opened in the year 1931. In
1965, the company handed the management over to Soquimich, Chemical
and Mining Society of Chile. At the beginning of 1996 this office
was deserted.
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