Oficina salitrera Pedro de Valdivia, Saltpeter works in Atacama Desert, Chile
The industrial complex spans across the arid landscape, featuring extraction facilities, worker housing, administrative buildings, and processing plants for nitrate production.
The facility began operations in 1931 under Guillermo Wendell's Nitrate Extraction Company and functioned until 1996, marking a significant period in Chile's mining industry.
The site developed its own community called Pampinos, with workers from Chile, Peru, and Bolivia establishing schools, theaters, and social centers within the complex.
Located 60 kilometers east of Tocopilla, the facility contains preserved industrial structures that demonstrate the Guggenheim extraction system used for nitrate processing.
The complex maintained its own monetary system, with workers receiving payment tokens that could only be used within the company's designated stores.
Location: María Elena
Inception: 1931
GPS coordinates: -22.59734,-69.66798
Latest update: May 28, 2025 23:24
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