Andacollo (Chile)

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Andacollo is a city in the Coquimbo Region, Chile. It is located at around 30°13′49″S, 71°5′9″W.

Andacollo is a copper and gold mining town located in the mountains of the Small North (El Norte Chico) in Chile. It was founded in 1891.

Several legends are told about the name of the town. Some say that it comes from the Quechua Anta-Goya which means cobre-reina (copper queen). Others say that the name means "Hurry up, Collo" (Anda, Collo). According to these legends, La Virgen del Rosario, also known as la Virgen Morena, or Black Madonna, appeared to an indigenous miner called "Collo" in the form of a small wooden statuette hidden in rocks. The statue told the newly converted Collo to build up a church at the place where Andacollo is located today. As many miracles are attributed to the Dark Lady (like stopping the smallpox epidemic of 1871) the city celebrates the Virgin every year on December 24th to 26th.