Chañaral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chañaral
City and commune
Plaza Chañaral
Coat of arms Chañaral Location in Chile
Country	Chile
Region	Atacama
Province	Chañaral Province
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area
• Total	5,772.4 km2 (2,228.7 sq mi)
Elevation	198 m (650 ft)
Population  (2002 Census)
• Total	13,143
• Density	2.27687/km2 (5.89706/sq mi)
• Urban	13,180
• Rural	363
Sex
• Men	6,968
• Women	6,575
Time zone	UTC−4 (CLT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code(s)	56 + 52
Climate	BWh

Chañaral is a small city located on the coast of Chile. It is the capital of the Chañaral Province in the Atacama Region. Even though it's by the ocean, it's not a typical beach resort. This is partly because the water has been affected by copper mining.

Just a short distance north of Chañaral, you can find the beautiful Pan de Azúcar National Park.

History of Chañaral

How Chañaral Began

In 1824, a person named Diego de Almeyda found a lot of copper in the area. He was the first to start exporting copper from Chile.

Because of this discovery, the town was started on October 26, 1833. It was first called Chañaral de las Ánimas, which means "Chañar field of the Souls."

Mining and Growth

A few years later, Pedro Lujan found more ore at a place called El Salado. A mine was built there. By 1836, a shipping port was built to send out the valuable raw materials.

Chañaral really started to grow in 1860. This was when a company called A. Edwards & Company set up its business in the town.

People and Population in Chañaral

Who Lives in Chañaral?

According to a census from 2002, the area of Chañaral covers about 5,772 square kilometers. At that time, 13,543 people lived there.

There were 6,968 men and 6,575 women. Most people, about 97.3%, lived in the city areas. Only a small number, 2.7%, lived in the countryside.

Population Changes

Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the number of people living in Chañaral went down slightly. The population decreased by 2.8%, which was 393 people.

If you are from Chañaral, you are called a Chañaralino if you are a man. If you are a woman, you are called a Chañaralina.

How Chañaral is Governed

Local Government

Chañaral is a commune, which is like a local district. It is managed by a municipal council. The head of this council is an alcalde, or mayor. The mayor is chosen by the people every four years.

Since June 2021, the mayor of Chañaral is Margarita Flores Salazar. She is part of the Radical Party.

Council Members

The council also has several other members who help make decisions for the city. These members include:

• Diego Vargas P.
• Sebastián González G.
• Quintina Galleguillos G.
• Ema Arnello T.
• Joice Tabilo P.
• John Silva M.

National Representatives

Chañaral is also part of larger electoral divisions of Chile. This means its people vote for representatives in the national government.

In the Chamber of Deputies, Chañaral is represented by several people. They are Daniella Circardini Milla, Sofia Cid Versalovic, Jaime Mulet Martinez, Juan Santana Castillo, and Cristián Tapia Ramos.

For the Senate, Chañaral is represented by Rafael Prohens Espinosa and Yasna Provoste Campillay. These representatives work for the entire Atacama Region.

View of Faro del Milenio lighthouse in Chañaral

Climate in Chañaral

Weather Overview

Chañaral has a hot desert climate. This means it is generally very dry and sunny. The weather is often warm, even in winter.

Temperatures and Rain

The warmest months are usually January and February, with average high temperatures around 23°C (73°F). The coolest months are June and July, with average highs around 16°C (61°F).

Chañaral gets very little rain. Most months have no rain at all. Sometimes, a tiny bit of rain falls in July and October.

See also

In Spanish: Chañaral para niños