Which continent contains the world’s driest non-polar desert, the Atacama Desert?

South America contains the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest non-polar desert.

The Atacama lies mainly in northern Chile, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, with parts extending into southern Peru. Some weather stations in the region have recorded no measurable rainfall for years, while the central desert receives exceptionally little precipitation.

Its dryness results from several factors: the cold Humboldt Current limits evaporation over the Pacific, the Andes create a rain shadow, and persistent atmospheric patterns suppress cloud formation. Despite the harsh conditions, coastal fog called camanchaca can provide moisture for specialized plants and animals.

The Atacama is also important for astronomy because its high altitude, clear skies and low humidity create excellent observing conditions. Major observatories, including the Very Large Telescope and ALMA, operate in the broader Atacama region. Antarctica is drier overall, but it is a polar desert rather than a non-polar one.