ATACAMA, a province of northern Chile, bounded north and south respectively by the provinces of Antofagasta and Coquimbo, and extending from the Pacific coast east to the Argentine bound ary line. It has an area of 3o,729sq.m. lying in great part within the Atacama desert region, and a population (190 2) of 71,446; (1930) 61,098. The silver and copper mines of the province are numerous, some of them ranking among the most productive known, but the majority are worked with limited capital and on a small scale. The silver ore was first discovered in 1832 by a shepherd at a place which bears his name, Juan Godoi. The nitrate and borax deposits are extensive and productive, and common salt is a natural product of large areas in the elevated desert regions of the Andes. The exports include copper and silver and their ores, nitrate of soda, borax and guano. The capital, Copiapo (est. pop. in 1930, 20,880), is situated on a small river of the same name 37m. from the coast and 51m. south-east by rail from Caldera, the principal port of this great mining district.