El Salado, Mining settlement in Atacama Desert, Chile
El Salado is a mining settlement in the Atacama Desert, situated among mineral-rich mountains and roughly 160 kilometers (100 miles) inland from the coast. The community spreads across a high plateau surrounded by bare, rocky slopes that show signs of intensive mining activity.
The settlement was founded in 1835 when miner Pedro Luján discovered valuable mineral deposits and Argentine citizens established mining operations. This early discovery led to the development of permanent human settlement in this remote desert region.
The mining community maintains strong connections to rescue operations through its Mining Rescue Brigade, which serves the entire Atacama region.
The settlement provides basic services including a rural medical center, police station, and fire department for residents. Visitors should know that this is a remote location where supplies and services are limited and dependent on occasional deliveries.
Local miners continue extracting minerals from surrounding deposits, selling their findings to the National Mining Company of Chile for processing.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
