Iquique (English spelling)

Japanese: イキケ（英語表記）Iquique

A port city in northern Chile facing the Pacific Ocean, located about 200 km south of the border with Peru. It is located in the arid region in the northern part of the Atacama Desert, and the city spreads out on a small rocky mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The anchorage is protected from the open sea by the low-lying Serrano Island offshore. It was built in the 16th century when silver ore was discovered in the area, and developed as a shipping port during the Spanish colonial period. It was originally part of Peru, and in 1882 it became part of Chile. During the period when saltpeter resources in the Atacama Desert were actively developed from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, it prospered as one of the main saltpeter shipping ports, but after the decline of the saltpeter industry, the city stagnated. However, in recent years, new port facilities have been built and industrial development has progressed, and the city is beginning to become lively again. Currently, factories producing fishmeal, canned goods, etc. are in operation. Guano (seabird droppings) is collected along the coast, rock salt is mined to the south of the city, and irrigated farmland is available in the surrounding area. Tourism has become popular in recent years, as people can swim and fish in the sea. The city was partially destroyed in earthquakes in 1868 and 1877, but old wooden buildings remain. There are roads that branch off from the Pan-American Highway and railroads to Santiago and the saltpeter region. Population: 148,511 (1992 estimate).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

チリ北部，太平洋にのぞむ港湾都市で，ペルーとの国境から約 200km南に位置する。アタカマ砂漠の北部にあたる乾燥地帯にあり，市街は太平洋を見おろす小高い岩山の上に広がる。停泊地は沖合いにある低平なセラノ島によって外洋から守られる。 16世紀この地域での銀鉱発見に伴って建設され，スペイン植民地時代にはその積出港として発展。当初ペルー領で，1882年チリ領。 19世紀から 20世紀初めにかけてアタカマ砂漠の硝石資源が盛んに開発された時期には，硝石の主要積出港の一つとして繁栄したが，硝石産業の衰退後，市も停滞。しかし近年新しい港湾施設が建設されるとともに，工業開発が進められ，再び活気を帯びはじめた。現在魚粉，缶詰などの工場が操業中。沿岸でグアノ (海鳥の糞塊) の採取，市南方で岩塩の採掘が行われ，周辺には灌漑により耕地も開かれている。海水浴や魚釣りができるため，近年観光業も盛んとなってきている。 1868，77年の地震で市街は一部破壊されたが，古い木造建築などが残っている。パンアメリカン・ハイウェーから分岐する道路が通じるほか，サンチアゴおよび硝石地帯と鉄道で結ばれる。人口 14万 8511 (1992推計) 。

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