View of the Dragon Dune in the foreground and the city of Iquique in the background, Tarapacá Region, northern Chile. The dune is about 20 000 years old and was originated by coastal winds when the sea level was 100 metres (110 yd) further inside. The dune looks menacing, especially from the bottom, but is stable. It became a Natural Sanctuary in 2005 but before that it was partially removed in the West wing to allow the growth of the city of Iquique. The dune is 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) long, between 150–550 metres (160–600 yd) wide and 320 metres (350 yd) high. Iquique has aprox. 185 000 inhabitants and is a prosperous and fast-growing city thanks to the free trade activities.