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Joao Pedro Assumpcao Bastos | profile | all galleries >> Some countries in Americas (except Brazil) >> Atacama Desert: Some Cities and People (2002) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Atacama Desert: Some Cities and People (2002)

In 2002, Arnulf Kost ("le berlinois") and I, we visited the north part of Chile. We rented a car at Antofagasta (by the Pacific coast) and we drove inside, direction Atacama Desert, known as the driest area in the world. We visited, Sierra Gorda, Chiu-Chiu (small towns with inca people) and Calama. From this town, we went to Chuquicamata, where there is a large copper mine. In that time, it was possible to visit the plant. And finally, we reached San Pedro de Atacama, at the heart of the desert. Very interesting, we passed by some ghost cities. At the begining of the 20th century, foreign companies built some cities for the extraction of 'salpetre' (potassium nitrate) very sought as fertiliser and gunpowder in North America and Europe. Chacabuco was one of these cities. By 1940s, the salpetre could be replaced by another product and, therefore, these cities were abandoned.
We also visited Toconao, near San Pedro de Atacama, and the Moon Valey at the same location. Finally, far from the Atacama desert, there are some pictures of Valparaiso, whose old part has several very colored houses.
I printed in my wet lab the BW pictures here presented. I used two Canon EOS film cameras, one for BW (T-Max 100 film) and the second one for chrome slides (Fuji Sensia). I scanned the BW photos with the Canon Scan 9000F Mk II at 400 dpi and the slides at 3200 dpi. Then, the pictures were adjusted and a little sharpened.
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Chiu-Chiu, near Calama.
Chiu-Chiu, near Calama. 		Antofagasta, by the Pacific Ocean.
Antofagasta, by the Pacific Ocean. 		Sea at Antofagasta.
Sea at Antofagasta.		 One of the main streets of Antofagasta.
One of the main streets of Antofagasta.
Chiu-Chiu, near Calama.
Chiu-Chiu, near Calama. 		Chiu-Chiu.
Chiu-Chiu.		 Road between Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.
Road between Calama and San Pedro de Atacama. 		On the Road between Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.
On the Road between Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.
On the Road between Calama and San Pedro.
On the Road between Calama and San Pedro. 		The copper is transported by train from Chuquicamata to Antofagasta (here it seems to be another marchandise).
The copper is transported by train from Chuquicamata to Antofagasta (here it seems to be another marchandise). 		The copper mine at Chuquicamata. It is very deep. The sand has 1% of copper. It is the largest copper mine in the world.
The copper mine at Chuquicamata. It is very deep. The sand has 1% of copper. It is the largest copper mine in the world. 		In the bottom of the mine, very far from our observation point.
In the bottom of the mine, very far from our observation point.
The sand is extracted and these trucks bring it to the industrial plant.
The sand is extracted and these trucks bring it to the industrial plant. 		Each truck (depending on brand and model) transports 200 ~ 300 tons; it means that, inside, there are 2 ~ 3 tons of copper.
Each truck (depending on brand and model) transports 200 ~ 300 tons; it means that, inside, there are 2 ~ 3 tons of copper.		 In the plant, the copper is extracted and melted on plates at 99.9% of purity.
In the plant, the copper is extracted and melted on plates at 99.9% of purity. 		To visited the plant, it was necessary to be dressed up. Here is Arnulf and his Nikon F100.
To visited the plant, it was necessary to be dressed up. Here is Arnulf and his Nikon F100.
Arriving to the ghost town Chacabuco.
Arriving to the ghost town Chacabuco. 		These town were 'complete', with theaters, electricity generators, bars, restaurants, etc...
These town were 'complete', with theaters, electricity generators, bars, restaurants, etc...		 In the ghost town Chacabuco; an abandoned electricity generator.
In the ghost town Chacabuco; an abandoned electricity generator. 		Explaining the product salpetre, responsible for the exploration.
Explaining the product salpetre, responsible for the exploration.
The ghost town Chacabuco.
The ghost town Chacabuco.		 The ghost town Chacabuco at the heart of Atacama desert.
The ghost town Chacabuco at the heart of Atacama desert. 		We were told that such houses at Chacabuco were used as a prison during Pinochet government.
We were told that such houses at Chacabuco were used as a prison during Pinochet government. 		Coward Military, written by the prisoners at Pinochet time.
"Coward Military", written by the prisoners at Pinochet time.
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