CALAMA

capital of El Loa province, Antofagasta region, northern Chile, on the Ro Loa in an extremely arid region. It lies on the western slope of the Andes at an altitude of 7,435 ft (2,266 m) and is linked to Antofagasta city, 125 mi (200 km) southwest, by aqueduct. The oasis town is a mining and agricultural marketing centre and a receiving station for cattle brought across the mountains from Argentina. The Smithsonian Institution (U.S.) operates a solar observatory nearby. Pop. (1982 prelim.) 98,551.