Chile’s hyper-arid desert, widely regarded as the driest nonpolar desert on Earth, is the Atacama Desert.
The Atacama occupies a long strip between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes in northern Chile, with smaller extensions into Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. The cold Humboldt Current, subtropical high pressure, and rain-shadow effects from the Andes and Coastal Range severely limit rainfall.
Some parts of the desert have recorded no measurable rain for years, although occasional storms can produce striking flower blooms. The Atacama is not the world’s driest desert overall: Antarctica is technically a polar desert and receives even less precipitation in many areas.
The region is also important for copper mining, astronomy, and research into Mars-like environments. Its exceptionally clear, dry skies support major observatories, including facilities near Cerro Paranal and the ALMA complex.