Sierra Gorda, Chile

Sierra Gorda
Commune
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Map of Sierra Gorda commune in Antofagasta Region
Map of Sierra Gorda commune in Antofagasta Region
Location in Chile
Sierra Gorda
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 22°54′S 69°19′W / 22.900°S 69.317°WCoordinates: 22°54′S 69°19′W / 22.900°S 69.317°W
Country Chile
Region Antofagasta
Province Antofagasta
Government[1]
  Type Municipality
  Alcalde José Guerrero Venegas
Area[2]
  Total 12,886.4 km2 (4,975.5 sq mi)
Elevation 1,615 m (5,299 ft)
Population (2012 Census)[2]
  Total 1,069
  Density 0.083/km2 (0.21/sq mi)
  Urban 0
  Rural 2,356
Sex[2]
  Men 1,791
  Women 565
Time zone CLT [3] (UTC-4)
  Summer (DST) CLST [4] (UTC-3)
Area code(s) (+56) 5
Website Municipality of Sierra Gorda

Sierra Gorda is a Chilean commune in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. The total population was 1,516 as of the 2012 census.[5] The two main settlements are the villages of Sierra Gorda (pop. 428) and Baquedano (pop. 825).

Due to the mining business, Sierra Gorda has the eighth highest average household income in the country (PPP US$34,842 in 2006).[6]

The village of Sierra Gorda stages a yearly summer music festival called Festival del Desierto ("Festival of the Desert"), which attracts thousands of people from nearby towns, and even from neighboring countries such as Peru and Bolivia.[7]

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Sierra Gorda had 2,356 inhabitants (1,791 men and 565 women), making it an entirely rural areas. The population grew by 65.3% (931 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]

Administration

As a commune, Sierra Gorda is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is José GuerreroVenegas.[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Sierra Gorda is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Pedro Araya (PRI) and Mr. Manuel Rojas (UDI) as part of the 4th electoral district, (together with Antofagasta, Mejillones and Taltal). The commune is represented in the Senate by Carlos Cantero Ojeda (Ind.) and José Antonio Gómez Urrutia (PRSD) as part of the 2nd senatorial constituency (Antofagasta Region).

2008 Quantum of Solace incident

While filming for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace was under way in the village, the mayor of Sierra Gorda, Carlos López Vega, drove his car onto the set because the crew had not asked his permission to film in his commune. [8][9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Municipality of Sierra Gorda" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  3. "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  4. "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  5. 2012 Chile census
  6. Encuesta Casen, 2006, Ministry of Planning. PPP data from International Monetary Fund, April 2008.
  7. La Tercera, February 10, 2008 print edition, page 68.
  8. Simon Gardner (2 April 2008). "James Bond has new nemesis: irate Chilean mayor". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  9. "'Mayor' protests on Chile 007 set". BBC News Online. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008.

External links