//
The vestiges of an old iron foundry.
Ruinas de Huanchaca is a former silver smelter in Antofagasta, Chile. The smelter was built from 1888 and 1892. Compañía Minera Huanchaca built the smelter together with Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta. In 1902 this smelter ceased operations due to the instability of silver prices in the international market and the use of outdated smelter technology. In addition, the Pulacayo mine in Bolivia that supplied the smelter was flooded. Since January 7, 1974, it has been officially categorized as a National Historical Monument by Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The yellowish rock gate stands in the sea at along a picturesque and wild cliff coast. If you bring a mattress and sleeping bag, there are many dry places to camp and stay over night.