Province of Chile. The Province of the Loa is located to the east of II the Region of Antofagasta, has a surface of 42,934.1 km² and has a population of 143,689 inhabitants. Its provincial capital is the city of Calama.

Calama
Calama is a city of the north of Chile, capital of the Province of the Loa in II the Region of Antofagasta.Integra along with the communes of Tocopilla, Maria Elena, Ollagüe and San Pedro de Atacama the Electoral District N° 3 and belongs to 2ª Senatorial Circumscription (Antofagasta).Una theory on the origin of its name, derives from the first inhabitants of the zone, the Ayllus (atacameños, quechuas and aymarás), who called "Kara" that in Cunza Language, that means "town", since the amount of its inhabitants was numerous. But this valley (Calama) was surrounded by the water of the River and of Fertile valleys therefore the denomination it happened to be "Town in the water" (Kara - Master). After the arrival of the Spaniards, the name simply happened to be "Calama".La commune of Calama is integrated in addition by the towns to Chiu Chiu, Lasana, the Tatio, Caspana, Ayquina, Toconce, Fitted and the mining town of Chuquicamata.

History
It was a poor establishment and of little population when Diego de Almagro arrived, since the pre-Hispanic center was in Chiu Chiu, because more down the Loa river was contaminated by brackish waters of the Salado river, which prevented the productions agrarias.Era an inn, or crossing site for those who journeyed the Way of Inca. In 1832 a weekly service between Potosí was created and Cobija and, towards 1840, after which the Bolivian prefect was transferred of Chiu Chiu to Calama, became the more important administrative center of área.El 23 of March of 1879 was occupied by the Chilean troops after the first battle against the Bolivian followers in the War of the Pacífico.El railroad arrived in 1886, in 1911 began the installation of Chuquicamata and, in 1951, the waters of the Salado river were turned aside, that prevented the agrarian development of territories of oasis.Calama constitutes the front door for the tourists which they travel to San Pedro de Atacama and to know inner towns marked by its pre-Columbian, rich past in history and memories.