Mejillones, Port city and commune in Antofagasta Province, Chile
Mejillones sits on the Pacific coast at the northern edge of the Mejillones Peninsula, surrounded by the Atacama Desert. The city functions as a major port for exporting minerals and other materials from the surrounding region.
The city grew as a port for mining and shipping resources from northern Chile. During the War of the Pacific in 1879, significant military events took place in the nearby bay.
The name comes from the Spanish word for mussels, which once fed the Chango people of this region. Fishing boats in the harbor today echo that long history of using the sea.
The city is easily reached by bus or car from Antofagasta and has accommodations and restaurants for visitors. Most streets are flat and simple to explore on foot.
The city holds several coal power plants that shape its industrial character and contrast sharply with the surrounding desert landscape. These facilities show how much the region depends on energy production.
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