Iquique Cruises
Iquique, city (1990 est. pop. 148,500), capital of Iquique prov., N Chile. A port on the Pacific, it exports nitrates and iodine from the Atacama Desert. The city, founded in the 16th cent., was taken (1879) from Peru by Chile during the War of the Pacific (see Pacific, War of the). Since rain rarely falls, water must be brought from 60 mi (97 km) away. Rock and sand enclose the city on the landward side, and the harbor, although greatly improved, still suffers from Pacific storms. The city has fine beaches and excellent deep-sea fishing.