Anibal Pinto Saltpeter Office.
The Pampa salitrera of Chile (1890).
Explosives plant, Calama.
Pampa Unión. Former Bolivian territory. Pampa Unión, in Chile's Antofagasta region, was a thriving town in the late 19th century due to rich saltpeter deposits. Originally under Bolivian sovereignty, the area gained significance before the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), attracting economic development and international interest. At its peak, Pampa Unión was a bustling center for the saltpeter industry. However, the early 20th century saw the industry's decline with the advent of synthetic alternatives, leading to the town's abandonment. Today, Pampa Unión stands as a ghost town, symbolizing the rise and fall of the saltpeter industry and the territorial changes resulting from the War of the Pacific.
Pedro de Valdivia.
Nitroglycerin transport cart. Explosives production plant for the mining industry. Calama, Chile.
A black and white photo of an abandoned, weathered building with broken windows and graffiti on the wall, under a dark cloudy sky.
A row of unfinished, weathered adobe buildings with open doorways and crooked windows under a blue sky with wispy clouds, in a desert setting.
A faded pink stucco wall with the words 'CHAMORRO NATA RE' carved into it.
Empty, unfinished room with rough floor, a worn-out wooden shelf, slightly open door, and minimal lighting, indicating construction or renovation in progress.
Deserted, partially ruined adobe buildings under a blue sky with wispy clouds.
A black and white photograph of a weathered house with graffiti on the wall, three small windows with bars, and two chairs outside with a bowl on one. The ground is rough and barren, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Mold for dynamite production. Explosives plant, Calama.
Archive image
Two large yellow boats on flatbed trucks in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky with clouds and the moon visible.
Nitroglycerine. Explosives plant, Calama.
A badge featuring a hiker with mountains and a sunset in the background, labeled 'I. Municipalidad Maria Elena Pampa Salitre Y Sol'.
Archive image
Black and white photo of a bright sun in the sky shining over mountain range, with a body of water or flat land in the foreground.
Cracked dry earth with sandy hills and a partly cloudy sky.
Owners of Saltpeter Works - Archive image
Pampa Unión. Former Bolivian territory.