Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert covers a total area of 40,541 sq. mi (105,000 sq. km), stretching 600mi
(1000km) from southern Peru into northern Chile. Officially the driest place on Earth, it receives
almost no rainfall whatsoever. In fact, it is so dry that some weather stations in the desert have
never recorded a single drop of rain. As a result of these harsh conditions, plant and animal life
is almost non-existent, particularly in the lower Atacama Desert. The northern coastal areas,
however, do receive a little more rainfall, and as a result, are less arid.
Countries: Chilean Flag Chile Peruvian Flag Peru Bolivian Flag Bolivia Argentinean Flag
Argentina Area: 40,541 sq. mi (105,000 sq. km)
Three different reasons contribute to the Atacama Desert being the driest place on earth. The
first reason is that the desert sits on the wrong side of the Andes with regards to prevailing
winds. As pictured above, the prevailing south-east trade winds carrying moist air are forced to
rise. The moisture condenses, and falls on the opposite side of the Andes to the Atacama. This
is commonly known as a rain shadow.
The second reason is high air pressure. Essentially, descending air warms up, meaning that
any moisture within turns to water vapour (gas, not liquid) as opposed to rain. Finally, the last
reason is the cold Humboldt Current from the Pacific Ocean. Any onshore winds are chilled so
they are unable to pick up moisture from the ocean. Cumulatively, the effect of the
aforementioned three points creates the driest place on earth.
Interesting facts about the Atacama Desert
Soil samples taken from Mars have been identified as being surprisingly similar to those taken
from the Atacama Desert. As a result, NASA frequently uses the desert landscape to test its
planetary rover vehicles/instruments prior to embarking upon missions to the red planet.
The Chinchorro mummies, found in the Atacama Desert, are the oldest examples of artificially
mummified human remains ever discovered. In fact, the oldest Chinchorro mummies predate
those found in Egypt by thousands of years.
The temperature in the Atacama Desert can reach highs of around 104F (40C) during the
dayime, whilst falling to temperatures of 41F (5C) or below at night.
The Atacama Desert is 50 times drier than Death Valley. As you would expect, very few
animals have been able to successfully adapt and inhabit this barren, dry landscape. The small
numbers of insects in the region become the prey of lizards, whilst an occasional bird of prey
can be found hunting for prey. Mammals are equally rare, with mice and fox among those you
may encounter periodically.
The Atacama Desert is home to the Atacama Crossing endurance race, in which competitors
traverse a wide range of terrains, including approximately 11,500ft (3500m) of ascents/descents
over a 7-day period. The quickest anyone has completed the feat is 23h 46m, an accolade

accomplished by the Spaniard, Vicente Garcia Beneito.

The Atacama Desert contains the worlds largest supply of sodium nitrate, making it a
valuable resource. As a result, the area was mined significantly in the 1940s. Many mining
towns have since been abandoned.
Throughout the 1800s, the Atacama Desert was at the epicentre of a land dispute between
Bolivia and Chile. Both nations claimed that they were the rightful owners of the northeastern
portion of the desert, leading to the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) breaking out. This area
contained highly valuable mineral resources, which the British and Chileans were exploiting for
substantial profit. Chile ultimately emerged as the victor, keeping control of the Atacama Desert
in its entirety.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Atacama-Desert