Antofagasta, a port in the Chilian territory of the same name, of increasing importance. Founded in 1870, the town owes its rapid rise to the saltpetre deposits in the neighbourhood, and to the rich mines of Caracoles, with which it is connected by railway. It was taken from Bolivia by Chili in the war of 1879. Pop. 7588. See ATACAMA.
Antofagasta
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 1: A to Beaufort, p. 323
Source scan(s): p. 0342