These deposits were exploited by Bolivia, Chile and Peru since the 1840s.
These acquisition enabled Chile to practically monopolize the production of natural nitrate.
By the 1890s Chile was supplying almost 80% of the nitrogen used in the world.
The main processing facility at Santa Laura.
The development of synthetic nitrate not only prolonged the war, but also transformed the world nitrogen market.
By the 1960s, all the mines had shutdown and sold-off for scrap.
The ghost towns of Humberstone and Santa Laura works are today the best preserved ones.
The Humberstone site has preserved living quarters, public spaces and communal buildings of the company town.
Photo credit:Claudius Proer/Flickr
Santa Laura.
Photo credit:Claudio Alvarado Solari/Flickr
A swimming pool in Humberstone.
Photo credit:Julie Laurent/Flickr
Humberstone.
Photo credit:Julie Laurent/Flickr
The theater in Humberstone.
Photo credit:Julie Laurent/Flickr
Photo credit:Dan Lundberg/Flickr
Sources:UNESCO/www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/Wikipedia/International Encyclopedia of the First World War
