Which continent contains the Atacama Desert?

South America contains the Atacama Desert. It lies mainly in northern Chile, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, with parts extending into southern Peru, southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.

The Atacama is one of the driest non-polar places on Earth. Some weather stations in its central area have recorded no measurable rainfall for long periods. Its extreme dryness results from several factors, including the cold Humboldt Current, subtropical high pressure and the rain-shadow effect of the Andes.

The landscape includes salt flats, volcanic terrain and mineral-rich basins. The desert’s clear, dry atmosphere also makes it an important location for astronomy; major observatories operate there because high altitude and limited water vapour improve observations. The Atacama’s dryness has additionally made it useful for studying environments considered similar to Mars.