Mejillones
Mejillones | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates (city): 23°06′S 70°27′W / 23.100°S 70.450°W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Antofagasta |
| Province | Antofagasta |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,803.9 km2 (1,468.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2012 census) | |
• Total | 9,218 |
| • Density | 2.4/km2 (6.3/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 7,888 |
| • Rural | 530 |
| Demonym | Mejillonino |
| Sex | |
| • Men | 4,654 |
| • Women | 3,764 |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) |
| Area code | 56 + 55 |
| Website | Municipality of Mejillones |
Mejillones is a Chilean port city and commune in Antofagasta Province in the Antofagasta Region. Its name is the plural form of the Spanish mejillón meaning "mussel", referring to a particularly abundant species and preferred staple food of its indigenous inhabitants. It is situated in the northern side of the Mejillones Peninsula, 60 km north of the city of Antofagasta. To the west, in the northern part of peninsula, is Punta Angamos, the site of the naval combat of the same name, fought during the War of the Pacific (1879-1883).
Mejillones is surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and by the most arid desert in the world to the east, the Atacama Desert. It also marks the country's widest point (362 km) along a parallel.