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    • Chuquicamata Mine, Chile
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Calama A Chuquicamata Mine, Chile story

  1. Chuquicamata Mine, Chile
  2. Calama
Description

As expected in the Atacama Desert, Landsat doesn’t detect much vegetation—only some green along the Río Loa and next to the city of Calama. Calama has seen a rising population because of the influx of mine workers. The images show this visible urban area expansion. Notice the airport expansion that took place between the 2010 and 2016 images.

Population of Calama
Year Population
2020 190,336
2017 171,875
2012 160,794
2007 151,296
2002 142,211
View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Jan. 9, 1988, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 9, 1988, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Dec. 17, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Dec. 17, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 21, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 21, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Dec. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Dec. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 27, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 27, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 1, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 1, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 6, 2022, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 6, 2022, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Jan. 9, 1988, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Dec. 17, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Jan. 21, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Dec. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Jan. 27, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Jan. 1, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile
Jan. 6, 2022, Landsat 8 (path/row 1/75) — Calama, Chile

Chuquicamata Mine, Chile Additional Imagery & Stories

Mining
Mining

As part of the mining, huge amounts of material are dug up and removed. The ore is crushed within the pit, and conveyors bring the ore to the mill. Ne...

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Moving a Town
Moving a Town

The town of Chuquicamata was established as a mining camp when mining operations opened. After much mining and open pit expansion, the town ended up b...

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