Humberstone, formerly known as "La Palma", was once a city dedicated to the exploitation of saltpeter. Built in 1872, in the heart of the Atacama desert, Humberstone closed its doors in 1960 because of tough competition. The 3500 inhabitants migrated to other mining centers. Living in Humberstone did not allow for a future beyond the dusty barriers around it because the workers were paid with meal tickets and therefore had no money. Today, the "ghost town" classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2005, is one of the main tourist attractions in northern Chile. 

 

Humberstone, Chile, january 2015