Humberstone Salpeter Works | Chile

Postcard
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works are two former saltpeter refineries located in northern Chile in the Atacama Desert. Both are the remains of a series of over 200 saltpeter works that once existed in this region. After the mines were abandoned in the 1960s they were occupied by homeless people.

Santa Laura and Humberstone were then bought by a businessman who planned to sell off the remains for scrap. But he went bankrupt first, which actually preserved it. They were taken over by a non-profit organisation, cleaned up and made UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2005.

Stamps
On the left UPAEP (Unión Postal de las Américas, España y Portugal) issue 2016. Every year the member countries issues stamps with common theme: Olympics.