Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Tocopilla
Chile
Tocopilla, city, northern Chile. It is situated on the Pacific coast.
Founded in 1843, it developed as a shipping point for copper mined inland. Now it is a major port and rail terminus for the nitrate and iodine mined at nearby María Elena and Pedro de Valdivia and for the copper mined at Chuquicamata, 93 miles (150 km) east. Hydroelectric power for Chuquicamata is generated in Tocopilla, where there is a copper-concentrate plant. Tocopilla is also known for its deep-sea fishing. It possesses an airport and is linked by road to the Pan-American Highway and the main north-south railroad. Pop. (2002) 23,352; (2017) municipality, 25,186.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.