María Elena, Chilean city and commune
María Elena is a town in Tocopilla Province in northern Chile, built around a nitrate plant that opened in 1926 and remains the only active saltpeter mining operation in the country. The settlement features simple streets lined with older buildings, mining infrastructure, and a layout designed around industrial production with an elevation of about 1,155 meters (3,789 feet).
The town was founded in 1926 as Coya Norte by the Anglo Chilean Consolidated Nitrate Corporation and renamed María Elena in 1927. The nitrate facility was once among the world's largest producers, and the town's development was shaped by government control of the industry from the 1960s onward.
The town is named after Mary Ellen Condon, wife of the first plant manager, and this name reflects the Anglo-Saxon influence on how the city was designed and built in the desert. The mining heritage shapes how locals view their identity and daily life here.
The climate is very dry with hot days and cold nights, so bring plenty of water and sun protection when visiting. The town is best accessed by car or bus from nearby larger cities, and accommodations are limited to small guesthouses and local eateries.
The town features in the Chilean novel El fantasista by Hernán Rivera Letelier, which portrays life and work during the saltpeter era with vivid descriptions of the dusty industrial landscape. The book captures the experience of workers and families living under harsh conditions in this remote desert settlement.
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