El Chiflon el Diablo (The Devil’s Whistle) is an underground coal mine in Lota, Chile. It is just over an hour bus ride from Concepcion. The town of Lota has run into tough times after the mine closed in the 1997 due to cheaper Colombian coal hitting the market.
The mine tunnels are supported by eucalyptus wooden beams, and are developed under the sea. Operation started in 1857 , when the town became the center of Chile’s coal production. Lota boomed as a small port.
The mine is ventilated by strong coastal breezes and is one of very few mines that does not require forced or mechanical ventilation in the world.
A truly beautiful attraction in Lota is the Isadora Cousino Park. The botanical gardens were planted by the original mine owners with various tree and flower species, and overlook the Pacific Ocean, the old port and mine shaft.
