In and Around Antofagasta

This is a photo of the Antofagasta area taken from the Space Shuttle. Muchas gracias, NASA!

Using a globe or a map of South America, trace your finger down the west coast until you cross the Tropic of Capricorn. There you will find a small peninsula sticking out into the Pacific. Antofagasta is located on the south side of the peninsula.

Antofagasta and the northern regions of Chile belonged to Peru and Bolivia prior to the War of the Pacific in 1872. The Chilean Army and Navy moved north eventually entering Lima. After the war Peru got Lima back but lost a great deal of its territory in the northern Atacama. Bolivia lost the Antofagasta region, including its only access to the sea.

... by the sea. This is a small Catholic church located to the south of the city near our home. It is situated on Military property and, I believe, used exclusively by them. The military has bases all along the coastline south of the city. On occassion we have seen waves washing over the stone wall and spraying the church.

Diane, taking her life in her own hands, is about to head off to "Centro" or downtown. This was taken just outside our front gate. You will note the security bars around all the houses. Crime isn't really all that bad, however you do hear about robberies from time to time. Of course, the way taxis and buses maneuver in Antofagasta is definitely a crime.

This is a shot from the park on Avenida Brasil. Families come here with their children all weekend and usually stay until about mid-night. There is often street buskers and clowns who try to eake out a living entertaining for the children. School kids, in love for the first time, spend free hours here as well.

Yes, it's true, vegetation can survive in Antofagasta if you supply the water.

Actually no, but sporting the Chilean flag on my chest, one might think so. One day we decided to climb one of the peaks behind our house. Behind me you can see the first mountain range to be encountered as you travel inland from the coast.

Diane snapped this picture of me after I had recovered sufficient wind to stand up straight.
(It was much easier going back down.)

On the the set of the movie "El Entusiasmo". The producers needed a bunch of extras to play the part of Canadian investors. There are actually only two Canadians in the group. Among the rest are one Australian, one Croatian, one Swiss and three Americans. It was a good thing we didn't have speaking parts. I'm in the blue shirt.

The set was situated just north of Antofagasta and from this picture you can see that the desert goes right to the ocean. Clever viewers will see that even the palm trees are fake.

The Portal is a natural formation on the coast just north of Antofagasta and is probably our most famous landmark (or sea mark) not covered in graffiti. As the geologists tell it, La Portada was formed through a very long process about a gazillion years ago. First, due to tectonic forces, the current coastline sank and had ocean sediments deposited on it. This eventaully became soft sedimentary rock. Then, as if by magic, those pesky tectonic forces caused the coastline to rise again. Finally, through wave and wind erosion, the softer parts of the sedimentary rock was worn away, leaving La Portada for us to enjoy today. Almost poetic, isn't it?

There is another theory that is promoted by Sodimac, the local building supply dealer, on its bill boards in the area. It suggests that La Portada was made using a huge concrete drill that was purchased from their stores. However, Chilean natural history authorities have ruled out this theory.

Taken from our backyard looking out over the ocean.

What more can you say ...