Copiapó

For other uses, see Copiapó (disambiguation).

Copiapó
City and commune
Main Square, Toro Lorca Palace, Atacama Museum, Viña de Cristo Palace, Atacama University, San Francisco Church and Copiapó Cathedral
Flag Coat of arms Copiapó Location in Chile
Anthem: Himno de Copiapó
Coordinates: 27°21′59″S 70°19′59″W
Country	Chile
Region	Atacama
Province	Copiapó
Founded	December 8, 1744
Founder	José Antonio Manso de Velasco
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Maglio Cicardini (IND)
Area
• Total	16,681.3 km2 (6,440.7 sq mi)
Elevation	390 m (1,280 ft)
Population  (2024)
• Total	168,831
• Density	10.1210/km2 (26.2132/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	copiapino, -a
Time zone	UTC−4 (CLT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−3 (CLST)
Postal code	1530000
Area code	(+56) 52
Climate	BWk
Website	www.copiapo.cl (in Spanish)

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone. Replace with time_zone.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_info. Replace with custom_data_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_name. Replace with custom_label_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter pushpin_map_caption. Replace with pushpin_caption.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone_DST. Replace with time_zone_DST.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter image_caption. Replace with caption.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter pushpin_map_alt. Replace with pushpin_alt.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter image_skyline. Replace with image.

Copiapó (Spanish pronunciation: [kopjaˈpo]) is a city and commune in northern Chile, located about 65 kilometers east of the coastal town of Caldera. Founded on 8 December 1744, it is the capital of Copiapó Province and Atacama Region.

Copiapó lies about 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of Santiago by the Copiapó River, in the valley of the same name. In the early 21st century, the river has dried up in response to climate change and more severe droughts. The town is surrounded by the Atacama Desert and receives 12 mm (½ in) of rain per year. It has 168,831 inhabitants.

Copiapó is in a rich silver and copper mining district, and while it attends large-scale mining operations further afar it is the central town of surrounding medium-scale mining mining district. A bronze statue commemorates Juan Godoy, discoverer of the Chañarcillo silver mines in the 19th century. The Copiapó-Caldera railway line, built in 1850, was the first one in South America. The first section between Caldera and Monte Amargo was inaugurated on 4 July 1850 in honor of the United States Independence Day, as American businessman William Wheelwright was responsible for the project. The original wooden railway station is now a National Monument.