Antofagasta
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. According to the 2015 census, the city has a population of 402,669.
Antofagasta | |
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City and Commune | |
Top row: View of downtown Antofagasta 2nd row: Old Antofagasta Customs House building, Beach of Antofagasta, "Mano del Desierto" (Hand of the Desert) Sand Sculpture in Atacama Desert 3rd row: Sailboats, Plaza Colón clocktower Bottom row: La Portada Natural Monument, Panorama of North Antofagasta, Ruins of Huanchaca. | |
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Coat of arms Map of Antofagasta's farms Antofagasta Location in Chile | |
| Nickname: La perla del Norte ("Pearl of the North") | |
| Motto(s): "Gloria, patria y tesón es tu lema y tu honor" ("Glory, homeland and tenacity is your motto and your honor") | |
| Coordinates: 23°39′S 70°24′W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Antofagasta |
| Province | Antofagasta |
| Settled | 22 October 1868 |
| Capital | Antofagasta |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal council |
| • Alcalde | Jonathan Velásquez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30,718.1 km2 (11,860.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
| Population (2017 Census) | |
| • Urban | 352,638 |
| Demonym | Antofagastian |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total (Metro) | $12.8 billion |
| • Per capita | $28,100 |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) |
| Postal code | 3580000 |
| Area code | +56 55 |
| Climate | BWk |
| Website | Municipality of Antofagasta |
After the Spanish American wars of independence, Bolivia claimed Antofagasta as part of its territory. 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.
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 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.