South AmericaChileAntofagasta
Antofagasta
Antofagasta, Chile · South America
About Antofagasta
Antofagasta sits on the route: 1 hours from Mejillones.
Antofagasta is in Chile, with about 400,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Mejillones, about 61 km away.
Antofagasta (Spanish pronunciation: [antofaˈɣasta] ) is a port city in northern Chile, about 1,100 kilometres (700 mi) north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. As of the 2024 census, with a population of 401,096, it is the 5th-largest city in Chile.
Once claimed by BoliviaRead more
following the Spanish American wars of independence, Antofagasta was captured by Chile on 14 February 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.
The city of 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 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 is the seat of one of Chile's three environmental courts and is also a university city being the home of the Catholic University of the North and the University of Antofagasta.
In 2012, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Antofagasta?
Antofagasta is in Antofagasta, Chile, about 61 km from Mejillones.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 401,096
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Chile
- Region
- Antofagasta
- Timezone
- America/Santiago
- Coordinates
- -23.6509, -70.3975
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