The ocean is contaminated by the copper mining activity in the area.

[3][4][5] Just north of the city lies Pan de Azúcar National Park.

According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute (INE) the commune of Chañaral spans an area of 5,772.4 km2 (2,229 sq mi) and had 13,543 inhabitants (6,968 men and 6,575 women).

[2] The demonym for a person from Chañaral is Chañaralino for a man and Chañaralina for a woman.

As a commune, Chañaral is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde (mayor) who is directly elected every four years.