El Loa Province, Administrative province in Antofagasta Region, Chile
El Loa Province sits in northern Chile and stretches across the high desert plateau of the Atacama region. Its three main towns are Calama, Ollagüe, and San Pedro de Atacama, each surrounded by sandy and rocky terrain.
The Loa River valley was home to the Atacameño people for thousands of years, who built settlements near the water sources in this harsh climate. The province took its name from this river that still flows through the landscape today.
San Pedro de Atacama preserves traditions of the Atacameño people through old adobe buildings and local celebrations that reflect centuries of settlement in this harsh landscape.
Regular bus services link the three main towns, with Calama serving as the main transportation hub for travelers moving between them. Most visitors base themselves in one town and make short trips to explore the surrounding area.
The region contains one of the world's largest copper mines, which operates deep underground and has shaped the economy of Calama. Few visitors realize that workers still extract ore from depths of nearly 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) beneath the surface.
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