Sewell Mining Town, Chile

Sewell Mining Town, Chile
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sewell_01.jpg
Author: Soizic Gaborel


The Sewell Mining Town is a mining town located 2,000 meters high up in the Andes, in the Province of Cachapoal, in the Municipality of Machali, in Chile. The town was established by the Braden Copper Company in 1905 for the purpose of housing the employees of El Teniente, which eventually became the world's largest underground copper mine.

The Sewell Mining Town is an outstanding example of a purpose-built town created in order to mine and process copper. It brought together outside industrial knowledge to a local workforce. The town itself was designed to fit the terrain which was otherwise too steep for wheeled vehicles. At its peak Sewell housed as many as 15,000 people. However by the 1970's, it has largely been abandoned.

Entrance to the mining town of Sewell
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Entrada_a_Sewell.JPG
Author: Soizic Gaborel


Sewell Mining Town was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 30th session of the World Heritage Committee which met in Vilnius, Lithuania, from 8-16 July, 2006.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: S 34 05 04 W 70 22 58
Inscription Year: 2006
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: II

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