Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama, a small oasis town with Spanish-Indian architecture, in the northern desert of Chile. It has a population of less than 1,000, and derives its income from agriculture and tourism.

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile. This cool, arid region, one of the driest parts of the world, stretches south along the Chilean coast. It lies between the low coastal mountains of the west coast and the foothills of the Andes in the east. A sandy area is shown here, but the region also contains pebbled pavements and salt pans.

Region in northern Chile; area 75,573 sq km/29,179 sq mi; population (1996) 250,163. It comprises the provinces of Chañaral, Copiapó, and Huasco. Its capital is Copiapó, an important centre for copper- and iron-ore mining. Copper mines are also situated at Potrerillos and El Salvador. The main port is Caldera, its chief exports being iron ore and sodium nitrate. The headquarters of the Andes Copper Mining Company are at the coastal town of Chañaral. The region's economy is based on fishing, mining, and agriculture. The Huasco Valley is noted for wine production.

The region includes the Andean peaks of Volcán, Copiápo, Nevado Ínes Cruces, and Cerro Dos Hermanos, the last two lying on the Argentine border.