Coquimbo

The origin of the term “Coquimbo” has been disputed for a long time. Some researchers have found that the term comes from the word Coquimpu in Quechua (translated as “a place of calm waters”), which, introduced by the local population (Chango and Diagit ), who inhabit coastal areas, gave rise to the word “Coquimbo” (“Coquimbo” ) Others note that this term comes from Cuquimbu , the name by which the hollow of the Elki Valley was known. Therefore, Coquimbo was called the entire territory known today as the province of Elki.

In 1553, the name was first mentioned in the book Chronicle of Peru by Ciez de Leon :

“Near this spit there is the port of Coquimbo, between it and the passed spit there are seven islands. The port lies at 29 ½ degrees. ” ^[3]

The territory on which the city is located (bay and hills) was inhabited by indigenous people who used it as a residence and a place for fishing. Just as Pedro de Valdivia , when traveling through this territory during his expedition, heading for the future Santiago (he wrote about this in his letter to King Charles V in 1550 ), so Juan Boon, creating the city of La Serena , agreed. that this place was well suited to create a port.

The advantages of the coast were also described in the ship magazines of various navigators and corsairs of that era, such as Francis Drake (who arrived in Coquimbo in a place called Punta Tortuga in 1578), Bartolomeo Sharp (who landed in this territory in 1680) and Edward Davis in 1686.

As far as is known, the first owner of the lands occupied by this port was Isabelle Beatrice Coles. However, later Bernardo Alvarez de Tobar, scribe of the municipality of La Serena , requested the Royal Court to grant him possession of these lands on the basis of marital ties with Don Isabelle. A few years later the lands passed into the possession of Agustin Alvarez de Tobar, who in 1670 sold part of the land to Juan Alvarez and Allende. And he, in turn, in 1710 sold part of the land to the monastery.

At the beginning of the XIX century, Coquimbo was a small village of fishermen. However, the railway that connected the mineral deposits with the port and copper foundries allowed the city to grow and develop. Coquimbo Municipality was established on May 5, 1867, and Jose Joaquin Edwards Ossandon became the first alkald. Coquimbo received city status on September 4, 1879 during the reign of Anibal Pinto.

In 1922, the area was hit by a tsunami as a result of an earthquake in Atacama Province . The earthquake reached 7 on the Richter scale and resulted in the death of hundreds of people.

In September 1931, the city became the site of the uprising of the squadron. The rebellious squadron anchored in this port and was bombarded by airplanes of Chile , which were concentrated at the airport of Tuca in the neighboring city of Ovalle.

The city is located on the shores of the bay of the same name of the Pacific Ocean , 12 km south-west of the administrative center of the city of La Serena .

The commune borders:

• in the northeast - with the commune of La Serena
• in the east - with the commune of Andacoglio
• in the south - with the commune of Ovalle

In the west is the Pacific Ocean .

Cross Millennium

The Millennium Cross is a monument located on the hill of El Vihia de Coquimbo. It was erected on the occasion of the two thousandth anniversary of the Catholic Church. Its construction was started in 1999 and completed in 2001. This structure, which consists of 3 levels, is 93 meters high and is located at an altitude of 197 meters above sea level. It is considered the tallest monument in South America.

Coquimbo Mosque

The Islamic Cultural Center of Mohammed VI, better known as the Mosque, is a mosque located on the hill of Villa Dominante in Coquimbo. Its construction began in 2003. This is a large-scale copy of the Koutoubia Mosque of the city of Marrakesh in Morocco with an area of ​​720 square meters, with a minaret 40 meters high.

• Las Tacas Airport
• Coquimbo Seaport
• Railway station

According to information collected during the 2012 census by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the population of the commune is ^[4] :

• Coquimbo Commune (citypopulation.de)
• Iluster Municipalidad de Coquimbo
• Portal coquimbo
• Cruz del tercer milenio
• Fotos de Coquimbo y La Serena