Where is atacama desert found

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. 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. Ben Davis October 3, Where is Atacama desert located? Is the Atacama Desert near the equator? Where is Atacama Desert located in relation to the Andes Mountains? What is the Atacama Desert famous for? Why is the Atacama desert so dangerous? What happened in Atacama Desert in Chile in ? What country has no rain? Is there a desert in South America?

Thankfully, all 33 miners were safely rescued on 13th October Its appearance is unlike other deserts and several movies and television programmes have been filmed in the area. One of the most famous of which is A Space Odyssey. The Atacama Desert is one of the top three destinations for visitors to Chile.

Thanks to the high altitude and dry weather, the Atacama is one of the best places in the world for astronomy. Experience the landscape of the Atacama Desert for yourself on our Chile group tours. September 23, at pm Reply. October 21, at am Reply. Nevertheless, this does not mean that there is no water.

There are numerous underground reserves which have accumulated over thousands of years and are still being investigated. In fact, the hotel Tierra Atacama gets its water supply this way, so as not to affect the water consumption of the locals of San Pedro.

This is just one of their sustainable initiatives to protect the native environment. It is important to note that there does exist an even more arid desert on the planet: the dry valleys of Antarctica. The impressive landscapes formed in the Atacama Desert not only amaze during the day with its beautiful sunrises and sunsets. At night, these special geographic conditions allow for an absolutely clear sky.

For this reason, astronomers from around the world have come here to study the universe, developing the most important network of observatories. We invite you to discover the marvelous scenery that the Atacama Desert has for you and your family. Partner Agency Access. YOUTH 12 to 17 years.