Iquique is a port city in northern Chile that came into being during the height of saltpeter mining in the Atacama desert. Like the saltpeter mines and refineries, the city started out in Peru and was captured during the War of the Pacific.
In the early 1900’s the city was the location of a historic massacre. Thousands of saltpeter mine workers and their families marched on the city to protest working conditions in the mines. In response, the Chilean army opened fire on the protesters killing as many as 2000. We learned about this at Humberstone, but I was surprised there wasn’t more about it in the city itself.
Today the city operates one of two duty-free ports in Chile. The Toyota Noah (remember back in Paraguay) came in through this port before it was trucked to Paraguay. The city also attracts beach goers in the summer months. Shipping and tourism are the two biggest industries.
This is our last night in Iquique. In the morning we move on to the next part of our journey.
Stay tuned.
Will