Sierra Gorda is a Chilean commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. The total population was 1,516 as of the 2012 census.[5] The two main settlements are the villages of Sierra Gorda (pop. 428) and Baquedano (pop. 825).

Sierra Gorda


Coat of arms
Map of Sierra Gorda commune in Antofagasta Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Sierra Gorda
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 22°54′S 69°19′W / 22.900°S 69.317°W / -22.900; -69.317
Country Chile
Region Antofagasta
ProvinceAntofagasta
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeJosé Guerrero Venegas
Area
 • Total12,886.4 km2 (4,975.5 sq mi)
Elevation
1,615 m (5,299 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[2]
 • Total1,069
 • Density0.083/km2 (0.21/sq mi)
 • Urban
0
 • Rural
2,356
Sex
 • Men1,791
 • Women565
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT[3])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST[4])
Area code(+56) 5
WebsiteMunicipality of Sierra Gorda

The Sierra Gorda Copper Mine is located 2 km north-west of the village of Sierra Gorda. Due to the mining business, Sierra Gorda has the eighth highest average household income in the country (PPP US$34,842 in 2006).[6]

The village of Sierra Gorda stages a yearly summer music festival called Festival del Desierto ("Festival of the Desert"), which attracts thousands of people from nearby towns, and even from neighboring countries such as Peru and Bolivia.[7]

Climate edit

Climate data for Sierra Gorda, Chile
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.2
(88.2)
30.9
(87.6)
30.7
(87.3)
29.3
(84.7)
27.4
(81.3)
26.2
(79.2)
25.8
(78.4)
27.7
(81.9)
29.1
(84.4)
30.5
(86.9)
31.2
(88.2)
31.4
(88.5)
29.3
(84.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1)
21.2
(70.2)
20.7
(69.3)
19.2
(66.6)
17.2
(63.0)
15.2
(59.4)
14.4
(57.9)
15.6
(60.1)
16.8
(62.2)
17.3
(63.1)
19.1
(66.4)
19.8
(67.6)
18.1
(64.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
10.3
(50.5)
9.4
(48.9)
6.8
(44.2)
4.7
(40.5)
2.8
(37.0)
2.1
(35.8)
3.1
(37.6)
4.5
(40.1)
5.8
(42.4)
6.7
(44.1)
8.3
(46.9)
6.2
(43.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.0)
Source: Atlas Agroclimatico de Chile (temperatures 1994–2014, precipitation 1994–2015)[8]

Demographics edit

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Sierra Gorda had 2,356 inhabitants (1,791 men and 565 women), and is an entirely rural area. The population grew by 65.3% (931 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]

Administration edit

As a commune, Sierra Gorda is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2021-2024 alcalde is José Guerrero Venegas.[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Sierra Gorda is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Pedro Araya (PRI) and Manuel Rojas (UDI) as part of the 4th electoral district, together with Antofagasta, Mejillones and Taltal. The commune is represented in the Senate by Jorge Soria (Ind., 2018–2026) and Luz Ebensperger (UDI, 2018–2022) as part of the 2nd senatorial constituency (Antofagasta Region).

2008 Quantum of Solace incident edit

While filming for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace was under way in the village, the mayor of Sierra Gorda, Carlos López Vega, drove his car onto the set because the crew had not asked his permission to film in his commune.[9][10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Municipality of Sierra Gorda" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  5. ^ 2012 Chile census Archived 2017-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Encuesta Casen, 2006, Ministry of Planning. PPP data from International Monetary Fund, April 2008.
  7. ^ La Tercera, February 10, 2008 print edition, page 68.
  8. ^ "Atlas Agroclimático de Chile–Estado Actual y Tendencias del Clima (Tomo I: Regiones de Arica Y Parinacota, Tarapacá y Antofagasta" (in Spanish). Universidad de Chile. 2017. pp. 136–146. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  9. ^ Simon Gardner (2 April 2008). "James Bond has new nemesis: irate Chilean mayor". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  10. ^ "'Mayor' protests on Chile 007 set". BBC News Online. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008.

External links edit