Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Tarapacá

Iodine Plant at Oficina Salitrera Santa Laura (see note for colour version). Like neighbouring Humberstone Santa Laura saltpeter works were closed down in 1960 and gained World Heritage status in 2005. whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178 Lesenswerter FAZ-Artikel über die Salpeterwerke in der Atacama-Wüste: www.faz.net/aktuell/reise/chile-stille-staub-vergessen-11522825.html

HFF everybody! Tennis court at Oficina Salitrera Humberstone (1872-1960), abandoned saltpeter works in the Atacama desert. Together with neighbouring Santa Laura, Humberstone has gained UNESCO world heritage status in 2005. See note for colour version. whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178 de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humberstone-_und_Santa-Laura-Salpeterwerke www.faz.net/aktuell/reise/chile-stille-staub-vergessen-11522825.html

Machinery at Oficina Salitrera Santa Laura, abandoned saltpeter works in the Atacama desert. Together with neighbouring Humberstone, Santa Laura has gained UNESCO world heritage status in 2005. "Humberstone and Santa Laura works contain over 200 former saltpeter works where workers from Chile, Peru and Bolivia lived in company towns and forged a distinctive communal pampinos culture. That culture is manifest in their rich language, creativity, and solidarity, and, above all, in their pioneering struggle for social justice, which had a profound impact on social history. Situated in the remote Pampas, one of the driest deserts on Earth, thousands of pampinos lived and worked in this hostile environment for over 60 years, from 1880, to process the largest deposit of saltpeter in the world, producing the fertilizer sodium nitrate that was to transform agricultural lands in North and South America, and in Europe, and produce great wealth for Chile. Because of the vulnerability of the structures and the impact of a recent earthquake, the site was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger to help mobilize resources for its conservation." whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178 de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humberstone-_und_Santa-Laura-Salpeterwerke

Quebrada de Chiza, taken from the top of the long distance coach. Bus stop at Salitrera Maria Elena

In the Atacama desert there are more than 5000 geoglyphs which were constructed between 800-1500 AD by (among others) the Tiwanaku and Inca cultures, probably for symbolic and ritualistic purposes but most importantly to mark out safe passages through the desert. The Atacama giant on the slopes of Cerro Unita is the largest human-like geoglyph in the world. It dates from pre Inca times, is 86m long and said to depict a shaman holding a medicine bag and arrow and wearing a jaguar mask. It is also thought to have served as an astronomical calendar. Geoglyphs of Chiza, set on a hillside some 100 km north of the Atacama Giant.

Paseo Baquedano is a street in Iquique's historic quarter. Most houses were built between 1880-1920 in characteristic style with open upper floors. The wood used is oregon pine which came as ballast on the return journeys of saltpeter ships.

Iquique developed into an important port during the saltpeter boom. Many historic buildings stem from that time, though some are sadly neglected or derelict. HFF!

Disused garages at Oficina Salitrera Humberstone. whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178

Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works are on the list of World Heritage in danger. Full description: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178