Tarapacá

Tarapacá is a region in northwestern Chile. It is located in the Arica and Parinacota Region and is the most northern region in the country. The region is named after the large salt deposits that were discovered in the 19th century by Chilean forces.

The history of Tarapacá is closely tied to the nitrate mining industry that dominated the region for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Initially controlled by Chilean businessman and politician Enrique Salvador Sanfuentes Concha, the nitrate deposits were then taken over by the Chilean government, and during the occupation of Tarapacá by Chile (1879-1884), English and Chilean multinationals dominated the nitrate industry, the owners of the nitrate deposits. Many of the workers in the mines were migrants from Europe and China.

In the 20th century, the nitrate industry began to decline as a result of the German empire's management of its Guano Islands, the need for Chile and Peru to adopt a chemistry-focused sector of hydrogen and sulfur and the difficulties with extraction from the deposits. In 1974, Chile inaugurated the Caldera Nitrate Company, a plant consisting of four production lines. This marked a new era for the industry in Tarapacá and Chile.

Today, Tarapacá remains rich in minerals and resources, with mining and tourism among its main economic activities. The region is also known for its natural beauty, with a diverse landscape that includes deserts, mountains, and valleys.