Arica

Arica
Clockwise, from top: Morro de Arica; Arica Cathedral; station of the Tacna-Arica railway; Casa de la Cultura de Arica; Presencias tutelares sculptures; Museum of History and Weapon; Plaza Colón
Clockwise, from top: Morro de Arica; Arica Cathedral; station of the Tacna-Arica railway; Casa de la Cultura de Arica; Presencias tutelares sculptures; Museum of History and Weapon; Plaza Colón
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of Arica y Parinacota Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Arica
Location in Chile
Nickname: 
"City of the eternal spring"
Coordinates: 18°28′42.2″S 70°19′16.4″W / 18.478389°S 70.321222°W / -18.478389; -70.321222
CountryChile
RegionArica y Parinacota
ProvinceArica
Founded1541
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeGerardo Espíndola
Area
 • Total4,799.4 km2 (1,853.1 sq mi)
 • RankArica
Elevation
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (2017)[2]
 • Total222,619
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Arican, aricano (M), aricana (F)
Sex
 • Male110,115
 • Female112,504
Time zoneUTC−04:00 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−03:00 (CLST)
Postal code
1000000
País+56 58
ClimateBWh
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

Arica (/əˈrkə/ ə-REE-kə; Spanish: [aˈɾika]) is a commune and a port city with a population of 222,619 in the Arica Province of northern Chile's Arica y Parinacota Region. It is Chile's northernmost city, being located only 18 km (11 mi) south of the border with Peru. The city is the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica and Parinacota Region. Arica is located at the bend of South America's western coast known as the Arica Bend or Arica Elbow. At the location of the city are two valleys that dissect the Atacama Desert converge: Azapa and Lluta. These valleys provide citrus and olives for export.[3]

Arica is an important port for a large inland region of South America. The city serves a free port for Bolivia and manages a substantial part of that country's trade.[3] In addition it is the end station of the Bolivian oil pipeline beginning in Oruro.[3] The city's strategic position is enhanced by being next to the Pan-American Highway, being connected to both Tacna in Peru and La Paz in Bolivia by railroad and being served by an international airport.

Arica has an extremely dry climate, with almost no rainfall. Even so, the frequent maritime winds from the cold waters nearby renders a moderate desert climate. Its mild weather has made Arica known as the "city of the eternal spring" in Chile[citation needed] while its beaches are frequented by Bolivian society.[3] The city was an important port already during Spanish colonial rule. Chile seized the city from Peru in 1880 during the War of the Pacific, being recognized as Chilean by Peru in 1929. A substantial part of African Chileans live in or trace their origins to Arica.

  1. ^ "Municipality of Arica" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Error 404". Default. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Arica Chile". Britannica. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2022.

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