COQUIMBO, city and port of the province of Coquimbo and department of La Serena, Chile. Pop. (1930), 17,121. The extension northward of Chile's railway system has brought Coquimbo into direct communication with Santiago. The city has a good well-sheltered harbour, reputed the best in northern Chile, and is the port of La Serena, the provincial capital, 9m. distant, with which it is connected by rail. There are copper smelting establishments in the city, which exports copper, gold and silver, and cattle and hay to the more northern provinces.
The province of Coquimbo, which lies between those of Acon cagua and Atacama and extends from the Pacific inland to the Argentine frontier, had an area of 15,402 sq.m. after the annexa tion of the north-western portion of Aconcagua in 1928. Pop. 198,336. It is less arid than the province of Atacama, the surface near the coast being broken by well-watered river valleys, which produce alfalfa, and pasture cattle for export. Near the mountains grapes are grown, from which wine of a good quality is made. The mineral resources include extensive deposits of copper, iron and some less important mines of gold and silver. At El Tofo, about 4om. north of La Serena, are being exploited rich deposits of iron, and a railway, 15m. long has been built to Cruz Grande on the coast for the shipment of ore. The climate is dry and healthful, and there are occasional rains. Several rivers, the largest of which is the Coquimbo (or Elqui) with a length of 125m., cross the province from the mountains. The capital is La Serena, pop. (193o), 20,096. The principal cities are Coquimbo, Ovalle, pop. (1930), and Illapel, pop. (1930), 4,405.