Which desert in Chile is one of the driest non-polar places on Earth?

The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest non-polar places on Earth.

The Atacama stretches along much of northern Chile between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. Parts of the desert receive virtually no measurable rainfall in some years, although coastal fog called camanchaca can provide limited moisture.

Its dryness results from several factors working together: the cold Humboldt Current stabilizes air over the coast, the subtropical high-pressure belt suppresses rainfall, and the Andes create a rain shadow that blocks moist air from the east.

The Atacama is not completely lifeless. Specialized plants, insects, microbes, and animals survive in suitable habitats, especially where fog or occasional rainfall occurs. Its exceptionally clear, dry air also makes the region ideal for observatories such as ALMA and the Paranal Observatory.