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III Region of Atacama

Atacama Region
III Región de Atacama
Region of Chile
Skyline of Atacama Region
Flag of Atacama Region
Flag
Coat of Arms of Atacama Region
Coat of arms
Map of Atacama Region
Map of Atacama Region
Coordinates: 27°22′00″S 70°19′56″W / 27.36667°S 70.33222°W / -27.36667; -70.33222Coordinates: 27°22′00″S 70°19′56″W / 27.36667°S 70.33222°W / -27.36667; -70.33222
Country  Chile
Capital Copiapó
Provinces Chañaral, Copiapó, Huasco
Government
 • Intendant Miguel Vargas Correa (PS)
Area
 • Total 75,176.2 km2 (29,025.7 sq mi)
Area rank 4
Highest elevation 6,891.3 m (22,609.3 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2012 census)
 • Total 284,992
 • Rank 11
 • Density 3.8/km2 (9.8/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code CL-AT
Website Official website (Spanish)

The Atacama Region (Spanish: III Región de Atacama) is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It comprises three provinces, Chañaral, Copiapó and Huasco. It is bordered to the north by Antofagasta, to the south by Coquimbo, to east with Provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan of Argentina, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The regional capital Copiapó is located at 806 km (501 mi) north of the country's capital of Santiago. The region occupies the southern portion of the Atacama Desert, the rest of the desert is mainly distributed among the other regions of Norte Grande

The Atacama Region is the third least populated region of the country, after Aysen and Magallanes. Of its total population, over 50% are located in the cities of Copiapó and Vallenar.

The largest cities are (2002 census data) Copiapó (125,983 inhabitants), Vallenar (43,750), Caldera (12,776), Chañaral (12,086), El Salvador (8,697) Tierra Amarilla (8,578), and Diego de Almagro (7,951).


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