There are deserts and then there is the “Atacama Desert”. This expression can perhaps be aptly used to describe the level of extremities present there. There are places in the world that are hot, places that are cold, places that experience very heavy rainfall. The Atacama Desert, however, has the unique distinction of being the “driest” place on earth.
Stretching around 1,000 kilometers from Peru's southern border into northern Chile, the Atacama Desert rises from a thin coastal shelf to the ‘pampas’—virtually lifeless plains that dip down to river gorges layered with mineral sediments from the Andes Mountain ranges.
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It is blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains on one side and by the Chilean Coastal Range on the other. There is evidence to suggest that there has been no rainfall in some areas for around 400 years!!!!
In no other place on earth has such an extreme been recorded. In fact, the average rainfall in one of the areas in Chile of the Atacama Desert is 1mm per year. The region is so arid that mountains at a height of 6,500 metres above sea level are free of glaciers. |
Source of Water:
There are a few locations within the desert that receive a marine fog, which provides some amount of moisture. Whatever, water is available is due to the condensation of this fog, which provides some relief to the people living there.
Harsh climates such as these, have drawn various geologists and researchers to this place to study the rock structure and the decomposition process. The climate being so dry prevents the presence of microscopic organisms thereby preserving the main body to a great degree.
Remains of ancient natives of this place have been preserved so well, it gives important insights into civilizations that existed prior to the discovery of the Americas.
This fantastic creation of nature is one of its kind. It’s a pity that it has been known to mankind only for the last 450-500 years.
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There is absolutely no vegetation or animal or insect that can be seen in this desert. Due to its appearance, the Atacama Desert is used as a filming location for outer space scenes (Planet Mars for example). Moreover, due to its altitude, free-cloud cover, less pollution, this place is ideal for an astronomical observatory. |
