Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is located on South American continent, in northern Chile between the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coast Range that borders the Pacific Ocean. It covers approximately 181,300 kilometers and is notorious for being the driest place on Earth, excluding the polar regions. Fast Facts

15 million years old
May not have had significant rainfall from 1570-1971
River beds may have been dry for 120,00 years
The Pan American Highway runs through it
Soil is so lifeless that NASA tested equipment designed for detecting life in Martian soil
Has the world's largest supply of Sodium Nitrate
Llamas, Deer, Mice, Fox, and Flamingos are found here
Penguins, Seagulls, and Pelicans are found along the coast

Climate

The Atacama Desert sits between the Andes Mountains to its east, and the Chilean Coast Range to its west, which causes a rain shadow effect. This deprives the region of almost all moisture. Measured annual precipitation in the region is only one millimeter, and its consistently low temperatures make it a "cold desert" like the Gobi or Antarctic deserts.

Flora and Fauna

Any plant life in the region is restricted to areas where marine fog is present. In these areas, algaes, lichen, and certain cacti can be found. Animals can be found in the regions close to the ocean.

Categories

Geography | Travel | Deserts | Outdoor Travel

| View Note History

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Atacama Desert
Extreme Science: Driest Place - Atacama Desert
University of Chile, Republic of Chile: Atacama Desert
National Geographic: Atacama Desert
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Atacama desert
Centres for Plant Diversity: Lomas Formations of the Atacama Desert, Chile
Encyclopedia of Earth: Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert News

Google News: Atacama Desert
BBC News: "Chile Desert's Super-Dry History" (December 8, 2005)
CNN.com: "Digging for life in the Deadest Desert" (August 5, 2004)
Mars Daily: "Mars-Like Atacama Desert Could Explain Viking No Life Results" (November 10, 2003)

Atacama Desert History and Background

Early History

National Museum of Australia: The Atacama Desert
Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB): Global Desert People (June 3, 2005) (2.74 MB)
University of Arizona News: "Ancient Rodent Middens Record Past Tropical Rain... (January 6, 2000)
National Academy of Sciences: Perennial Stream Discharge in the Hyperarid Atacama Desert...

Modern History

Carnegie Mellon University: Robotic Astrobiology in the Atacama Desert
ISS EarthKAM: The Atacama Desert of Northern Chile
NASA: Two Dry for Life: The Atacama Desert and Mars (March 9, 2004) (1.14 MB)
Archaeological Institute of America: "Making the Dead Beautiful: Mummies as Art" (December 16, 1998)

Atacama Desert Educational Resources

Sterling Schools: Atacama Desert, The Cold Desert Biome
Education World: How Dry Can a Desert Get?
National Museum of Australia: Survival in the Great Deserts of the Southern Hemisphere

Atacama Desert Travel

Official Site: Excursions in Atacama Chile
Lonely Planet: Atacama Desert, Chile
Lost World Adventures: Atacama Desert ~ Chile
World 66: Atacama Desrt Travel Guide

Atacama Desert Travel Packages

South American Experience: Chile- Atacama Desert
Lodge Terrantai: Atacama Desert Excursions and Trips
Go Chile: Discovering Atacama Desert
Cascada Expediciones: 4 Day Atacama Nature Tour

Atacama Desert Activities

Explora: Explorations in Atacama
Equestrian Safaris: Horse Riding Holiday | Atacama Desert
Southern Latitudes Tours: Atacama Desert Tours

Atacama Desert Photos and Videos

Google Image Search: Atacama Desert
Yahoo! Image Search: Atacama Desert
YouTube and Google Video Search: Atacama Desert
Yahoo! Video Search: Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert Blogs and Forums

Google Blog Search: Atacama Desert
Culture of Soccer: Soccer in the Atacama Desert (October 23, 2007)
Seeking Something: Atacama Desert (September 30, 2007)
Real Travel: Oasis in the Desert (April 12, 2007)
4Wheel & Off Road Magazine Forum: Atacama Desert Raid 2008

Atacama Desert Fun Stuff

Go Chile: Atacama Desert Background
Enchanted Learning: Color a Llama Online
Crayola: Sandy Desert Craft

Atacama Desert Books and Merchandise

Google Product Search: Atacama Desert Product Search
Yahoo! Product Search: Atacama Desert
Amazon.com: Atacama Desert Merchandise
Barnes & Noble: Atacama Desert Books

Related Pages on Mahalo

Bolivia | Santa Cruz | Chile | Santiago Vacation | Santiago Tours | Pacific Ocean | Paraguay | Peru | San Juan | Cordoba | Argentina | Death Valley

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