Caldera: Desierto de Atacama, View to North

Caldera lies along Chile’s Pacific coast, where the intensely dry Atacama Desert meets a broad bay and rocky shores. This port town is closely tied to the mining history of the interior: the Caldera–Copiapó Railway, inaugurated in 1851, was Chile’s first railway and carried mineral wealth from the Copiapó area to the sea. Near the town, Bahía Inglesa is known for its pale sand and calm, clear water. Caldera’s waterfront, working harbour and desert surroundings give it a distinctly northern Chilean character. Discover other points of interest through webcams located across the Atacama Region.

Atacama Region is best known within Chile for the Atacama Desert, among the driest non-polar deserts on Earth. Extending from the Pacific coastline to the Andes, it brings together coastal desert, broad interior basins and high-altitude volcanic terrain. The Copiapó River valley has supported settlement and agriculture in an otherwise arid setting, with vineyards and fruit farms relying on scarce water. Copiapó is the regional capital, and mining remains central to local identity: the 2010 rescue of 33 miners from the San José mine drew international attention. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of the Atacama Region.

Among the countries of South America, Chile stands out for its exceptional north-to-south extent between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The Atacama Desert in the north is one of the driest places on Earth, while the south reaches into Patagonia, where Torres del Paine National Park is known for its jagged granite peaks, glaciers and lakes. Chile also includes Rapa Nui, the Pacific island famed for its monumental moai statues. In Valparaíso, steep hills, funicular railways and colourful historic neighbourhoods reflect the country’s maritime past; its historic quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Find related webcams in the surrounding area to build a fuller picture of Chile’s Pacific coast and Andean regions.