Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. Archaeological research has indicated the site of Arica was inhabited by different native groups for at least ten thousand years. The city was founded by Spanish captain Lucas Martinez de Begazo in 1541, and in 1570 was entitled as "La Muy Ilustre y Real Ciudad San Marcos de Arica" (the very illustrious and royal city of San Marcos of Arica). This city was since 1545 the port for exporting the silver of Potosí. The city is the capital of the recently created Arica-Parinacota Region (October 2007). It has a population of approximately 200,000 and is known as the "city of the eternal spring". The city was part of Peru until June 7, 1880, when it was taken by Chilean forces during the War of the Pacific. The battle for the Morro de Arica ("Arica's Cape"), was one of the war's most famous actions, with hundreds of casualties on the Peruvian and Chilean sides, in a matter of only a few hours of fighting.