Oficina salitrera Pedro de Valdivia, Saltpeter works in Atacama Desert, Chile
The Oficina salitrera Pedro de Valdivia is an industrial complex in the Atacama Desert containing extraction facilities, worker housing, administrative buildings, and processing plants for saltpeter production. The site displays the Guggenheim extraction system that was used here for nitrate processing.
The complex began operating in 1931 under Guillermo Wendell's nitrate company and continued until 1996. This long period represented a significant chapter in Chile's mining history.
Workers built their own community here with schools, theaters, and gathering spaces where people from Chile, Peru, and Bolivia lived side by side. This shared life shaped the place into something more than just a factory.
The site is located east of Tocopilla and features preserved industrial structures that visitors can explore. You should prepare for dry desert conditions and bring suitable clothing and water.
The complex operated its own monetary system where workers received payment tokens usable only in company stores. This arrangement kept workers economically tied to the facility.
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