Caldera (Chile)
 
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Caldera is a port city in the Little North of Chile in the Región de Atacama . It has 14,000 inhabitants (as of 2003).
Geography and climate
Caldera is located about 75 km west of Copiapó on the Pacific.
The climate is quite dry due to its proximity to the Atacama Desert .
history
In 1687 the Englishman Edward Davis reached the Playa Bahía Inglesa (translated: English beach ) on the coast about 6 km from Caldera, in 1840 the Englishman William Wheelwright of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company visited the area around Caldera. At his suggestion, the first railway line was built in 1851 from Copiapó to Caldera. Caldera became an important port for exporting ores.
The city was officially founded on September 23, 1850.
Severe earthquakes and tsunamis hit the city frequently , the last quakes being in 1868, 1877 and 1922.
Attractions
Excursion destinations are the church of San Vicente de Paul from 1862 and the Padre Negro grotto . The grotto from 1978 was decorated with biblical motifs by Father Velasquez. The Playa Bahía Inglesa is suitable as a bathing beach.
Eleven km to the north is the Santuario de la Naturaleza Granito Orbicular , in which spherical granite rocks can be viewed. 30 km to the north is the Pan de Azúcar National Park with large numbers of cacti and Humboldt penguins .
economy
The city lives mainly from copper mining and from growing citrus fruits , which are shipped via the port. Fishing and tourism also play an important role. The beaches attract many visitors.
Picture gallery
Bahía Inglesa.
Spherical granite.
Blooming desert in 2005.
Blooming desert in 2005.
See also
Coordinates: 27 ° 4 ′ S , 70 ° 49 ′ W