Mejillones

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Mejillones
City and Commune
Flag Coat of arms Map of Mejillones in Antofagasta Region Mejillones Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 23°06′S 70°27′W / 23.100°S 70.450°W / -23.100; -70.450
Country	Chile
Region	Antofagasta
Province	Antofagasta
Founded	1842
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area [1]
• Total	3,803.9 km2 (1,468.7 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (2012 census)[1]
• Total	9,218
• Density	2.4/km2 (6.3/sq mi)
• Urban	7,888
• Rural	530
Demonym	Mejillonino
Sex [1]
• Men	4,654
• Women	3,764
Time zone	UTC−4 (CLT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code	56 + 55
Website	Municipality of Mejillones

Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province in the Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side of the Mejillones Peninsula, 60 km north of the city of Antofagasta. To the west, in the northern part of peninsula, is Punta Angamos [es], the site of the naval combat of the same name, fought during the War of the Pacific (1879-1883).

Mejillones is surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and by the most arid desert in the world to the east, the Atacama. It also marks the country's widest point (362 km) along a parallel.