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Nitrate fire in Iquique, Tarapaca, Chile, South America
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Nitrate fire in Iquique, Tarapaca, Chile, South America
Nitrate storage fire at the Gildemeister company premises in Iquique, Tarapaca, Chile, South America. Nitrate is extremely flammable. Date: circa 1910
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Media ID 14417571
© Mary Evans / Pharcide
Accident Accidents Billowing Chile Dramatic Flames Flammable Iquique Latin Nitrate Premises Storage Tarapaca
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, the night sky over Iquique, a coastal city in the Tarapaca region of Chile, South America, is illuminated by the fiery glow of a nitrate storage fire at the Gildemeister company premises. Dating back to circa 1910, this image captures the raw power and unpredictability of nitrate, an extremely flammable substance that was once a major export for the region. The billowing grey and black smoke, punctuated by orange and red flames, rises high into the night, casting an eerie, otherworldly light over the city. The dark, dramatic image conveys a sense of both awe and danger, as the fire consumes the buildings and structures in its path. Nitrate, a mineral used primarily in the production of explosives and fertilizers, was a valuable commodity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Iquique was one of the largest producers of nitrate in the world during this time, and the Gildemeister company was a major player in the industry. However, the highly flammable nature of nitrate made it a dangerous substance to store and transport, and accidents like this one were not uncommon. Despite the risks, the nitrate industry continued to thrive in Iquique until the 1920s, when the discovery of more abundant and less dangerous sources of nitrate in other parts of the world led to a decline in production. Today, the city is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage. But the memory of the nitrate industry and the fires that accompanied it remain a part of Iquique's history, a reminder of the risks and rewards of human progress.
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