Copiapó

Copiapó is a city in the little North of Chile in the region of Atacama (III) and capital of a province of the same name. Copiapó is located at 27°21′59″S, 70°19′59″W, near the port city of Caldera, Chile. Copiapó; in 1903, 9,128; and in 1907, 11,617. As of 2002, it has 141.979 inhabitants. Copiapo lies about 800 km north of Santiago by the Copiapó river in the Copiapó valley. It is surrounded by the Atacama desert and receives little rain (12mm/year).

Copiapó is in a rich silver and copper mining district. It possesses a bronze statue of Juan Godoy, the discoveror of the Chañarcillo silver mines.

The Copiapó-Caldera railway line, built in 1854, was the first in South America. The original wooden railway station is now a national monument.