Caldera, Port city in Atacama Region, Chile
Description
Caldera sits on the Pacific coast at the edge of the Atacama Desert, with breakwaters protecting its harbor from strong ocean currents. The city spreads in a compact layout with a main square that serves as an orientation point for visitors.
History
Chile's first railway line was constructed in 1851, connecting Caldera to Copiapó and establishing the city as a major mineral export hub. This connection made it a center of economic activity during the mining boom.
Culture
The cemetery established in 1876 displays mausoleums built by English craftsmen and tombstones of Carrara marble, representing Chile's first secular burial ground. These monuments reflect the city's importance during the mining prosperity of the 1800s.
Practical
The city can be explored entirely on foot, with good paths connecting most points of interest. Visitors should prepare for intense sun and bring plenty of water, especially when exploring the dry areas nearby.
Did you know?
North of the city lies a nature sanctuary with unusual granite displaying spherical patterns in the rock surface. This geological feature develops through slow erosion of granite blocks and is rarely seen elsewhere.
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Pan de Azúcar National Park
112.7 km
Estadio Luis Valenzuela Hermosilla
60 km
Llanos de Challe National Park
121.2 km
Museo Regional de Atacama
57.6 km
Copiapó Cathedral
58.3 km
Cerro Ballena
3.5 km
Estadio La Caldera
1.2 km
Paleontological Museum of Caldera
695 m
Nantoco
75.5 km
Museo Casa Tornini
631 m
Casa Maldini Tornini
59.4 km
Faro de Punta Caldera
3.9 km
Viña del Cerro
121.1 km
Museo Minero de Tierra Amarilla
72.8 km
Pucará de Punta Brava
103.5 km
Villa Viña de Cristo
56.7 km
Palacio Incaico de La Puerta
108.2 km
Millennium Lighthouse
82.2 km
Edificio Consistorial de Copiapó
58.3 km
Nantoco
75.5 km
Copiapó train station
57 km
Granito Orbicular
10.7 km
Plaza de Armas de Copiapó
58.4 km
Museo Mineralógico de la Universidad de Atacama de Copiapó
58.5 km
Casa de los empleados de Ferrocarriles de Copiapó
57.4 km
Memorial en Homenaje a los Detenidos Desaparecidos y Ejecutados Políticos de la Región de Atacama.
58.3 km
Casa de José Joaquín Vallejo
82.7 km
Memorial Mausoleo en Cementerio de Copiapó
58.3 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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