Antofagasta, Port city and mining center in northern Chile
Antofagasta stretches along the Pacific coast at the edge of the Atacama Desert, with a grid of streets running between the ocean and mountain ranges. The port complex sits at the northern edge of the urban area and allows mineral exports from nearby open-pit mines inland.
The settlement began in 1868 as a Bolivian trading post and came under Chilean control in 1879 after fighting in the War of the Pacific. Copper finds in the surrounding mountains turned it into a port town for mineral exports.
The name comes from the Antofagasta people who once lived along this coastline. Workers from the surrounding mines come to the city regularly for supplies and services, while dock crews load mineral shipments onto cargo vessels.
Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport lies about 25 km (16 miles) south of the city center and offers several daily connections to Santiago. Coastal fog can reduce visibility in the morning, while dry inland winds often blow in the afternoon.
The region delivers over half of Chile's copper production and visitors often see long freight trains carrying minerals to the port. Some vehicles still carry labels in several languages due to international mining companies.
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