Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Immovable Culture Heritage

The Santiago Humberstone and Santa Laura are two old Saltpeter Works administered by the Corporation Museo del Salitre and declared National Monuments and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They are located in Pozo Almonte, Tarapacá Region, in Chile. Located 48.1 kilometers east of Iquique city, they are national monuments and, since July 17, 2005, they have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Both Saltpeter Works, although originally operated separately, are nowadays the main reflection of the period of splendor and contrasts that the region experienced between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Santa Laura, in its best period, had a population of 425 inhabitants, while Humberstone surpassed 3700 inhabitants. Both Saltpeter Works had theaters, churches, swimming pools, tennis courts, small houses, medical clinics, and bars that guaranteed a “normal” life for the workers and their families beyond the factory.

isfiveoneonezero,worldheritagelayer

19th Century

jcbo1

Site

320

19/05/2021

cm x cm x cm

current,-20.209035,-69.795849;

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

https://www.albumdesierto.cl/humber.htm

TEXT

Place Name

461

public

1

jcbo1@st-andrews.ac.uk