Nitrate extraction began in 1812 with the opening up of eight nitrate mines in the Pampa Negra, in west Peru. In the Pacific War of 1879, Chile annexed territory from Bolivia and Peru and obtained the nitrate monopoly. Hundreds of settlements were constructed in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta Regions of the Atacama Desert. The nitrate industry collapsed after WW I, resulting in a desert filled with ghost towns that are a forlorn reminder of the importance that nitrate once played in this region
What is Nitrate, or Saltpetre?
The raw material of nitrate is a centimetres thick layer of stone in the Atacama Desert, called caliches, which contains a high concentration of salts and nitrates. The Atacama Desert is unique in the world in having these caliches, and they are concentrated in an area called Pampa de Tamarugal.
The caliches are the result of extreme climatological circumstances in the region. In this part of South America, the Andes Mountains lack an extensive river system to carry waste material to sea. Instead the meltwater trickles westward through porous rock until it hits the impenetrable layer of rock of the coastal mountains. Here the water resurfaces and evaporates, leaving salts and nitrates that accumulate to form thick layers [Wereldwijzer Chili, by Henk Filippo, EAN 9789038918099].
The History of Nitrate Mining in Chile
In 1808-1809 large deposits of saltpetre were discovered in Zapiga, Pampa Negra and Negreiras. In 1821 the Peruvian Don Mariano Riberos introduced nitrate in Europe, which quickly led to a large demand; it became extremely popular for agricultural purposes after it proved to be a good fertilizer. From 1835 to 1877 the export of nitrate fertilizer grew explosively.
The Pacific War Between Chile, Bolivia and Peru
In 1879 the Tarapacá Region belonged to Peru, and the Antofagasta Region to Bolivia. However, it was Chilean scientists who had found the nitrate deposits in these regions and many of Chile's workers worked in the Antofagasta Region. The combination of these elements led to tension between the two countries after nitrate proved such an economic success.
Who started the Pacific War and for which reason depends on which country one asks. According to the Chilean records it was caused by Bolivia, who breached border treaties with Chile by raising the nitrate tax. In retaliation Chile captured Antofagasta and since Peru took sides with Bolivia, Chile declared war on both countries. In 1883 Chile had annexed both regions and as a result became the monopolist in the export of nitrate.
Nitrate Mining in the Atacama Desert
Much of the desert's surface was turned upside down to reach the nitrate-rich caliches. They were transported to the mines by narrow-gauge railways, where the nitrate was extracted from the caliches through a process of steaming and drying. To fuel the ovens large parts of the Tamarugal Forests were cut down, which proved an ecological disaster. The nitrate was subsequently transported to ports such as Iquique and Pisagua, from where it was transported to the rest of the world.
Chile's Saltpetre Boom and Nitrate Ghost Towns
From 1912-1914 the nitrate industry was at its peak with 170 mines yearly producing three million tons of nitrate. It gave economic prosperity to 200,000 people that lived in mining towns spread over the Atacama Desert.
During World War I the Germans no longer had access to the nitrate supplies from Chile and looked for alternatives. Haber and Bosch invented synthetic fertilizers, which quickly led to the collapse of the nitrate industry in Chile. Between 1914 and 1960 the majority of nitrate mines closed down and most workers moved to the cities along the coast or to Central Chile.
The abandoned mines quickly became ghost towns, many of which can be visited today. The mining towns of Humberstone and Santa Laura have been declared World Heritage Sites and give a good insight into the lives of the mineworkers in the Atacama Desert of those days.
To learn more about Chile's nitrate region, explore the surrounding Atacama Desert by car, since public transport is minimal or, in some areas, non existent. This article gives you specific tips on renting a car in north Chile.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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