Tarapacá Region

The Tarapacá Region (Spanish: Región de Tarapacá, pronounced [taɾapaˈka]) is one of Chile's 16 first-order administrative divisions. It comprises two provinces, Iquique and Tamarugal. It borders the Chilean Arica and Parinacota Region to the north, Bolivia's Oruro Department and Potosí Department on the east, Chile's Antofagasta Region on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The port city of Iquique is the region's capital.

Tarapacá Region

Región de Tarapacá
Region of Chile
Cerros Pintados geoglyphs, Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of Tarapacá Region
Coordinates: 20°17′S 69°20′W
Country Chile
CapitalIquique
ProvincesIquique, Tamarugal
Government
 • IntendantMiguel Quezada Torres (UDI)
Area
 • Total41,799.5 km2 (16,138.9 sq mi)
Area rank6
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2017 census)[1]
 • Total324,930
 • Rank12
 • Density7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeCL-TA
HDI (2018)0.862 [2]
very high
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)
Landscape near Collahuasi, Tarapacá.
Iquique
Dancers in the Fiesta de La Tirana, the main religious festival in northern Chile

Much of the region was once the Tarapacá Province of Peru, which was annexed by Chile under the 1883 Treaty of Ancón at the close of the War of the Pacific. The region was important economically as a site of intense saltpeter mining, before synthetic nitrate manufacturing became possible. A number of abandoned mining towns can still be found in the region.

The present day Tarapacá Region was created in 2007 by subdividing the former Tarapacá Region under Law No. 20,175, which was signed by President Michelle Bachelet in Arica.[3]

Administration

The government of the region resides in the intendant, who is assigned by the president. Each of the region's two provinces are further subdivided into communes.

Province Capital Commune Other towns
Iquique Iquique Iquique
Alto Hospicio
Tamarugal Pozo Almonte
Huara Pisagua
Camiña
Colchane
Pica
Pozo Almonte Mamiña

Climate

A desert climate dominates the region. Near the coast, cloudiness can limit the temperature swing throughout the day, but in other drier areas, temperatures can vary greatly as is typical in deserts. A marginal desert region can be found over 3,000 m (9,843 ft) above sea level, which sees milder temperatures and summer rains.[3]

Rivers

Economic activities

See also

References
  1. "Tarapacá Region". Government of Chile Foreign Investment Committee. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  3. "Arica-Parinacota Region". 9 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
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