ABOUT THE POVINCE

The region used to be Bolivian until the War of the Pacific broke out in 1879.Mining is the main economic driver.

The climate is extremely arid albeit somewhat milder near the coast. Nearly all of the region is devoid of vegetation except close to the Loa River or at oases such as San Pedro de Atacama. Much of the inland is covered by salt flats, tephra and lava flows. The coast exhibits prominent cliffs.

The average rainfall in the Antofagasta is just 1 millimetre per year. From the coast, east to the Chilean Coast Range, is the south-central part of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. The surroundings of abandoned Yungay town have been named the driest place in the world.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO DO HERE?

• mano del desierto, salar de atacama — a large telescope
• volcanoes, parks, nature reserves, history, geysers, desert, and ocean sports,