CHILE | Thursday, 4 July 2013 | Views [541] | View Larger Image
The mining industry flourished in the region between the 18th and 19th century but water resources were always a conflict. The extraction of gold and sodium nitrate (salt) stopped in the 20th century but today’s copper industry is ranked first place globally and it’s the most valuable industry of Chile. Workers started migrating there and Machuca prospered but when mining activity moved to the northern city of Calama, where the world’s biggest copper mine is located (“Chuquicamata”), and salt extraction became outlawed when Atacama was declared World’s Patrimony, Machuca became desolate.
