• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME
  • BY COUNTRY
    • WEST EUROPE
      • Belgium
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Ireland
      • Liechtenstein
      • Luxembourg
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Switzerland
      • Wales
    • NORTH EUROPE
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • Norway
      • Sweden
    • SOUTH EUROPE
      • Cyprus
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Holy See
      • Italy
      • Malta
      • Portugal
      • San Marino
      • Spain
    • EAST EUROPE
      • Austria
      • Belarus
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Montenegro
      • Poland
      • Serbia
    • NORTH ASIA
      • China
      • Japan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Mongolia
      • North Korea
      • Tajikistan
      • Uzbekistan
    • SOUTH ASIA
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Myanmar
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • Antigua & Barbuda
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • USA
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
    • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
    • OCEANIA
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • MIDDLE EAST
      • Jordan
      • Turkey
  • MOST POPULAR
    • The world’s oldest backpacker
    • Orangutans in Borneo
    • The need for speed
    • Trying to get out of the slum
    • The lake swamped with tourism
    • Journey into Dreamland
    • The village where life begins again
    • Is Cambodia safe for travellers?
    • Making the perfect gin and tonic
  • UNESCO

Ye olde abandoned mining town

March 8, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 15 Comments

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Sewell Mining Town

Just as the rivers flow down from the Andes, so does the wealth of Chile. For here, high in the mountainous border of the country, are the natural resources which have made Chile one of the most stable economies in South America.

Over the years, the mining techniques have evolved and the exact locations moved.

Left on the mountains are the husks of the communities that once dug up the earth to keep the nation prosperous. The most famous of these in Chile is the old mining town of Sewell.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Built into the mountainside, layered upwards with a system of staircases and bridges, Sewell was home to more than 15,000 people at its peak.

At the time, it was the largest underground copper mine in the world. Today the mine itself still operates but the town was abandoned in the 1970s when the residences were moved downhill to give workers better facilities.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Mining in Chile

The mine has life still. Trucks thunder along the dirt roads, dirtied men emerge from the dark caverns underground, and smoke wisps up from the factory-like buildings in the high terrain. About three per cent of the world’s copper is produced here.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Sewell is a ghost town, though. It’s been left as it once was… minus the people.

There’s an old theatre that is empty but for the memories of the nights that the workers would spend here to find relief from the loneliness of their lives.

Dormitory buildings have corridors of doors that are never opened or closed and hide an emptiness behind them. The wide and steep staircases between the buildings lead to nowhere.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

It’s strange to stand in the middle of silence in the shell of a community that would once have been so noisy and busy.

The buildings are all painted bright and varied colours, which give the town a vibrance in stark contrast to the rocky mountain it is built on. It’s the only thing that is vibrant today, though.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

The history of Sewell

Investors from the United States began to take ownership of the mine and built Sewell in the early 1990s. The equipment and conditions for the men who lived here had the benefit of modernity but it was a remote and hostile environment.

More than 2000 kilometres above sea level, the cold winds have a harshness as they swirl around the buildings, carrying dirt and dust with them, they would’ve chilled the inhabitants. The sun beats down but it brings no warmth.

From this altitude the views are striking but the homes and families of the workers are nowhere to be seen. They would’ve felt trapped up here in the Andes.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

Both the Chilean government and UNESCO have deemed Sewell to be a town of historical importance. It is “an outstanding example of the company towns that were born in many remote parts of the world from the fusion of local labour and resources from an industrialized nation, to mine and process high-value natural resources.”

It is also a tribute to the men who braved such harsh conditions. And a memorial to the 355 workers who died during a fire in the mine in 1945.

Sewell abandoned mining town, Andes, Chile

The town is situated on land that is still owned by the mining company and can only be visited with an authorised guide.

Driving along the tracks to reach it, you pass operational parts of the business. The living conditions may be a bit better for the workers these days.

In some ways, though, not much has changed. It’s a hard life high up in the mines but there are always people willing to do it. This is not just about history.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.
Chile Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHILE?

To help you plan your trip to Chile:

  • What you’ll see on a free walking tour of Santiago
  • Here’s why you’ll see so many healthy street dogs in Chile’s capital
  • The wonderful quaint fish market in Santiago
  • Valparaiso: The most colourful city in Chile
  • Visiting an incredible abandoned mining town in the Andes
  • Climb to the top of an active volcano covered in snow
  • Things to do in Pucon
  • Why the churches in Chiloe are a World Heritage Site
  • Learn about the mythology of southern Chile

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a tour of the Chile, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours of Chile.

You could consider:

  • The W Trek (6 days)
  • Highlights of Chile and Argentina (10 days)
  • Discover Patagonia – National Geographic (14 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. LInda |

    March 6, 2012 at 8:02 am

    Reply

    Super post. Fascinating subject. I love it when I read something completely new. And lovely writing, really descriptive, even without the photos – they are a bonus!

    • Turtle |

      March 6, 2012 at 10:45 am

      Reply

      I had never heard of it either until I started doing some research while I was in Chile. It was definitely worth the trip out there, though!

  2. The Travel Fool |

    March 6, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Reply

    Finding old towns such as these that are void of life are cool and creepy at the same time. Almost like your in a old Hitchcock movie or Twilight zone episode.

    • Turtle |

      March 6, 2012 at 10:46 am

      Reply

      What a good idea! It would be the perfect place to set a movie. You should charge a commission when they actually do that! 🙂

  3. Cam |

    March 11, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Reply

    Enjoyed this post – well done! It’s interesting to see a modern day ghost town.

    • Turtle |

      March 14, 2012 at 9:16 am

      Reply

      It’s definitely a strange feeling. You have to try and imagine what it was once like as you walk around, or it’s just too depressing.

  4. Yvonne |

    March 14, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Reply

    Oh I love abandoned places! Great story and pictures! In Berlin we have a (soon two) abandoned airports and I love the old airport Tempelhof as you can go there for a run on the old airfield, go kite surfing and in summer the Berlin Music Festival is happening there. Very cool. 😀

    • Turtle |

      March 15, 2012 at 2:25 am

      Reply

      That airport sounds amazing! I’ll definitely have to check it out if I get to Berlin soon!

      • Yvonne |

        March 15, 2012 at 2:26 am

        Reply

        Cool! Let me know when you’re around and I will buy you a Currywurst 😀

  5. Deb |

    March 25, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Reply

    It’s always interesting to visit places that have been abandoned. It’s sort of creepy. To think that it was thriving at one point and now stands empty. some of the buildings look so nice, it must have been strange to see. And yes indeed, the life of a miner is definitely a harsh one.

    • Turtle |

      March 27, 2012 at 2:46 am

      Reply

      The buildings are actually quite beautiful – really full of colour. I think it would have been quite a site in its day!

  6. Anthony @ Green Mochila |

    November 22, 2019 at 12:35 am

    Reply

    This is crazy Michael; I’ve read your whole post through and still don’t know where in Chile that town is. In the north, close to Humberstone? In the centre, in the South? I thought that would be an essential information, don’t you think?

Primary Sidebar

This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

Want Occasional Updates?

Sign up to be the first to hear the latest about the adventures of Time Travel Turtle. You'll also get access to special offers and exclusive news.
Thank you! You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.

Search

  • PRIVACY POLICY