Agua Amarga facts for kids
Agua Amarga means Bitter Water. It was once a very important place in Chile because of the large amounts of silver found there. This area, known as a silver deposit and mining district, is located about 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) south of a city called Vallenar in Chile's Atacama Region.
The Discovery of Silver
Silver was first discovered in Agua Amarga in 1811. This discovery was very important for Chile's history. The silver from Agua Amarga helped to pay for the Chilean War of Independence. This war was fought to make Chile an independent country, free from Spanish rule.
How Many Mines Were There?
A scientist named Ignacy Domeyko studied the area in 1822. He found that there were about 150 different silver mines working in Agua Amarga at that time! Some of the most successful mines were named Calera, Colorada, and Aris.
Other Silver Discoveries
The discovery of silver in Agua Amarga encouraged people to look for more silver in other places. This led to more important finds:
- In 1825, silver was found in a place called Arqueros.
- Even more silver was discovered in Chañarcillo in 1832.
The discovery at Chañarcillo was so big that it started what is known as the Chilean silver rush. This was a time when many people moved to Chile hoping to find their fortune in silver.
See also
In Spanish: Agua Amarga (Chile) para niños
