List of saltpeter works in Tarapacá and Antofagasta facts for kids

The use of Nitratine, also known as Chilean Saltpeter, was once a very important way to get nitrates. Nitrates are special chemicals used in many things. They were especially important for making fertilizer to help plants grow. They were also used to make gunpowder and fireworks!

In the 1830s, people started sending nitrates from Chile to Europe and the United States. This was a huge moment for the nitrate industry. It also had a big impact on the economies of three countries that share the Atacama Desert: Chile, Perú, and Bolivia.

The Rise of the Nitrate Industry

The city of Antofagasta was founded in 1868. Just a year later, in October 1869, the first nitrate factory, called Oficina Salar del Carmen, started working. These factories were known as "Oficinas salitreras," which means "saltpeter works."

In 1871, a special railway was built. It ran from Iquique to La Noria in Peru. This railway helped transport the valuable nitrates.

The Peruvian Government tried to control the nitrate business. In 1873, they created a state monopoly, meaning they were the only ones allowed to sell nitrates. This control lasted until the "War of the Pacific" (1879–1883). This war happened because of the huge boom in new saltpeter works. Countries wanted control over these valuable nitrate mines.

The End of an Era

After World War I, the way we get nitrogen changed. Scientists found a new method to create nitrogen from the air. This new method was much cheaper and easier. Because of this, the old way of mining nitrates became less important. The saltpeter industry slowly faded away.

Saltpeter Works in Chile

Many saltpeter works were built in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions of Chile. These places were like small towns built around the nitrate mines. They had homes, shops, and everything the workers needed. Some of these old towns are now ghost towns.

The information about these saltpeter works comes from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Each place has a special number called a Unique Feature Identifier (UFI). This number helps to identify each unique location.

Images for kids

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  1890 map of saltpeter works in Tarapacá

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  19°S-20°S: Pisagua, Quebrada de Camarones, Caleta Junin, Of. Jazpampa, Of. Vieja

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  20°S-21°S: Iquique, Huara, Pozo Almonte

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  21°S-22°S: Río Loa, Quillagua

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  22°S-23°S: Tocopilla, Punta Hornos, Of. María Elena, Río Loa

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  23°S-24°S: Antofagasta Coast

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  23°S-24°S: Antofagasta interior, Toconao, Peine, Tilomonte, Salar de Atacama

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  24°S-25°S: Punta Amarilla to Rada de Paposo

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  25°S-26°S: Taltal, Chañaral, Pan de Azúcar National Park

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  25°S-26°S: Taltal, Oficina Chile

See also

In Spanish: Oficina salitrera para niños

• Pedro Gamboni