Pampa Unión, National monument in Sierra Gorda, Chile
Pampa Unión is an abandoned saltpeter processing facility in the Atacama Desert, showing remains of production buildings and workers' quarters from the 20th century. The structures form an industrial site frozen in time within one of the world's driest regions.
The facility opened in 1911 as a saltpeter office and operated for several decades as a major center for mineral extraction and processing. It closed in 1954 as global demand for the mineral shifted and the industry transformed.
The structures at Pampa Unión show how people worked and lived in the desert, with buildings designed for the demands of saltpeter production. Walking through the site reveals the daily reality of miners adapted to one of the world's harshest environments.
The site is located about 144 km from Antofagasta and is accessible by Route R-25, allowing visitors to explore the abandoned structures at their own pace. The desert location means bringing plenty of water and sun protection is essential.
The site received protection as a National Monument in 1990, officially recognizing its industrial heritage in one of Earth's most hostile locations. This designation has preserved hundreds of structures from decay in an environment that rarely sees rainfall.
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