Pica, Chile


Pica is a Chilean town and commune in Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region. Situated in the inland of the Atacama Desert on an oasis, Pica is famous for its small and unusually acidic lemons. The town has a communal spring with a surface temperature of 40 °C, which makes it a popular bath place in the middle of the desert. It has hotels and all basic services.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Pica has an area of and 6,178 inhabitants. Of these, 4,674 lived in urban areas and 1,504 in rural areas. The population grew by 45.9% between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Administration

As a commune, Pica is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Pica is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mrs. Marta Isasi and Mr. Hugo Gutiérrez as part of the 2nd electoral district, which includes the entire Tarapacá Region.The commune is represented in the Senate by Fulvio Rossi Ciocca and Jaime Orpis Bouchon as part of the 1st senatorial constituency.