Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is located onSouth 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

1. 15 million years old
2. May not have had significant rainfall from 1570-1971
3. River beds may have been dry for 120,00 years
4. The Pan American Highway runs through it
5. Soil is so lifeless that NASA tested equipment designed for detecting life in Martian soil
6. Has the world's largest supply of Sodium Nitrate
7. Llamas, Deer, Mice, Fox, and Flamingos are found here
8. Penguins, Seagulls, and Pelicans are found along the coast

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.

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.