Caleta Buena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caleta Buena
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Town
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| Caleta Buena | ||
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| Country | Chile | |
| Region | Tarapacá Region | |
| Province | El Tamarugal | |
| Area code(s) | (+56) 5 | |
Caleta Buena is a town in Chile. It's a small cove located in the Tarapacá Region. Today, no one lives there. You can find it about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Pisagua. It is also 31 kilometers (19 miles) north of Iquique.
History of Caleta Buena
Caleta Buena was started on August 15, 1888. A man named Santiago Humberstone founded it. He wanted a place to load saltpeter onto ships. Saltpeter was a very important mineral used in fertilizers and explosives. It came from the Agua Santa saltpeter mine nearby.
In 1891, Caleta Buena became its own local area, called a commune. It even had a local government from 1894 to 1895. But then, a new law stopped this government.
In 1929, a big fire hit the town. It started during a movie showing at the local theater. The fire caused a lot of damage.
During the 1930s, the world faced a tough economic time. This also affected the saltpeter business. The Agua Santa company sold everything it owned to the Chilean government.
In 1940, heavy rain caused a flood. This flood destroyed much of what was left of the town. After this, Caleta Buena was left empty and abandoned.
Caleta Buena and the Dakar Rally
Even though it's an abandoned town, Caleta Buena was part of a famous race. In 2011, the 2011 Dakar Rally used Caleta Buena as one of its routes. The A-514 road connects the town to Alto Hospicio and Pisagua.
