Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

Humberstone and Santa Laura

November 14, 2019  —  Chile

Humberstone

Humberstone - Chile

Nowadays, Humberstone is an interesting ghost town. In its heyday, it was a lively town with a grand theatre, a large swing pool, a ballroom, a school, basketball and tennis courts, a market, and a hotel. The mining town was flourishing in the 40s during the nitrate boom. Mining operations stopped around 1960 with the arrival of synthetic nitrate produced from ammoniac as opposed to saltpetre.

The nitrate processing plant, adjoining the urban centre, has all the buildings and equipment needed for the transformation of saltpetre (raw material) up until the finished product (nitrate).

Humberstone is a great museum and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Humberstone - Chile

The picture shows the history of the site with a few key dates.

1862 Saltpetre mining starts with the 'Paradas' process (a scientific method to produce nitrate).
1872 The Humberstone plant is built under the name of Salitrera La Palma.
1894 Modernization of the plant ('Shanks' process).
1930 The Great Depression of the 30s following the market crash in 1929.
1934 Founding of the COSATAN group with 48 plants that survived the crisis (out of 270).
1960 Mining operations are stopped. End of Humberstone.
1971 The site becomes a national monument of Chile.
1997 Founding of the Museo de Salitre corporation to protect the site.
2005 Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Here is the entire process from saltpetre to nitrate. Producing 117 kg of nitrate a day.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Luxurious house for a big boss.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
The workers living area.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
The theatre.
Humberstone - Chile
The library.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Diving boards at the pool.
Humberstone - Chile
A swimming pool made of metal recovered from a ship wreck.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Old door collection.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile

The museum

Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Pencil case.
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
Humberstone - Chile
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Oficina Santa Laura

Santa Laura - Chile

Curiously, the Oficina de Santa Laura is only 3 kilometres away from Humberstone. Like its neighbour, Santa Laura is a processing plant for transforming saltpetre into nitrate. It was built around the same years as Humberstone, but it never became as important as its competitor.

Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile
Santa Laura - Chile