The Coquimbo Region forms the narrowest part of Chile and is one of the most mountainous areas in the country, as theAndes range lies closer to the sea here than in other regions. The region is home to diverse marine and terrestrial species.Upwelling along the coast fosters high marine productivity, contributing to a rich ecosystem.[5]
In the southern mountainous areas, theendangeredChilean Wine Palm (Jubaea chilensis) can be found. Its habitat is under threat from human activities, such as population growth anddeforestation for agriculture and urban expansion.[6]
TheElqui Valley, known for its clear skies, is home to numerousastronomical observatories.[7] Additionally, thePuclaro Dam, a 640-meter-long structure, contains a reservoir that holds 4.63 million cubic meters of water for agricultural irrigation along theElqui River.
Mining and agriculture have shaped the distribution of settlements in the Coquimbo Region, particularly around transverse valleys and mineral deposits. Historically, these settlements corresponded to the locations ofDiaguita indigenous villages. A significant portion of the population, around 70-75%, is ofMestizo (Euro-Amerindian) descent, the highest percentage in Chile.[citation needed] Other indigenous groups present in the region include theAymara,Atacameño,Mapuche, andQuechua, many of whom except Mapuche migrated fromPeru andBolivia.
The La Serena-Coquimbo conurbation, with an estimated population of around 300,000 people (297,253 as of the last census), accounts for about half of the region's total population. Other major urban centers include Ovalle (66,405),Illapel (21,826),Vicuña (12,910),Salamanca (11,615), andLos Vilos (10,966), based on data from the 2002 census.
The Coquimbo Region is a popular tourist destination, known for its long, white-sand beaches and mild climate. The region's economy is also supported by agriculture and fishing. Additionally, its mountainous terrain makes it a key location forastronomical research.
Until 2009 whenmining of manganese ceased in Chile Coquimbo Region produced all of manganese in the country.[8][9] All the manganese mining districts of the region lie in the inland.[9] HistoricallyCorral Quemado and other areas of Coquimbo Region have produced most manganese in Chile.[10] Manganese mining in Chile and Corral Quemado had a strong peak in 1943 when it came to produce more of what was being purchased leading to largestockpiles accumulating in ports and railway stations and ultimately to a halt in mining and thus mass unemployment.[10]
The firstnewspaper in the region,El Minero de Coquimbo, was published in 1828. Today, the region is served by several local newspapers, includingEl Día in La Serena, founded in 1944,La Región in Coquimbo, founded in 2004, andEl Ovallino, founded in 1989 in Ovalle.
TVN Red Coquimbo, a regional affiliate ofTelevisión Nacional de Chile (TVN), began broadcasting in 1993. Several local cable andUHF television channels, such as CuartaVisión and Ovalle TV, offer regional programming that includes news, sports, and cultural content. However, several regional stations have ceased operations, includingTelenorte andCanal 8 UCV TV, which broadcast until 2001 and 2002, respectively.
^Anuario de estadisticas del cobre y otros minerales [Yearbook: Copper and Other Mineral Statistics: 2004 2023] (Report).Comisión Chilena del Cobre. 2024.
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