San Pedro de Atacama

The Atacama Desert, stretching approximately 1,000 kilometers across northern Chile, is recognized as the driest place on Earth. Surrounded by the Andes Mountains on one side and the coastal highlands of the Pacific Ocean on the other, the Atacama’s unique geography results in arid conditions with almost no water vapor in the air. The intense sunlight heats the desert, producing high temperatures. Despite its harsh environment, the Atacama Desert is economically significant due to its rich deposits of copper, gold, and silver.