Iquique

Iquique, city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. Iquique is a major seaport of Chile and serves as the outlet for the surrounding area, which is rich in nitrates, iodine, salt, and guano. The city is a trading and manufacturing center. The chief industries include fish canning, petroleum refining, sugar refining, and the manufacture of cement. Railway lines connect Iquique with various mining centers in the interior of the province and with other coastal cities. Because the city is in a dry area, water is piped from 89 km (55 mi) inland. Iquique was founded in the 16th century and was part of Peru until 1879, when it was captured by Chile during the War of the Pacific. It was formally ceded to Chile by treaty in 1883. Population (2006 estimate) 181,544.