The Driest Place on Earth: Atacama Has Not Seen Rain in Centuries

Parts of Chile's Atacama Desert have not received a single drop of rain in over 500 years. Some weather stations in the driest core have never recorded any measurable rainfall since they were installed. This makes the Atacama the driest non polar desert on Earth and one of the most alien landscapes you can visit without leaving the planet.

So Dry That NASA Tests Mars Rovers Here

NASA scientists discovered that soil in the driest parts of the Atacama is nearly identical to what rovers found on Mars. The agency regularly sends prototype rovers and instruments to the Atacama to practice before missions to the Red Planet. Some patches of soil contain virtually no organic matter, no bacteria, and no detectable life. Scientists call these areas the closest analog to Mars that exists on Earth.

Why the Atacama Never Gets Rain

The Atacama sits trapped between two rain blocking forces. The Andes Mountains to the east block moisture from the Amazon basin. The cold Humboldt Current in the Pacific Ocean to the west cools the air and prevents rain clouds from forming. This double rain shadow has kept the region hyper arid for over 30 million years, making it the oldest desert on Earth.

The Clearest Skies in the World

The extreme dryness creates something remarkable. The Atacama has the clearest night skies on the planet. Over 30 world class observatories and telescopes sit in the Atacama, including the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. Astronomers travel from around the globe because the air is so dry and still that stars barely twinkle, allowing telescopes to capture images with extraordinary clarity.

When the Desert Explodes With Flowers

Once every 5 to 10 years, a rare rainfall event triggers the desierto florido, or flowering desert. Millions of dormant seeds that have waited years or decades suddenly sprout, covering the barren landscape in carpets of purple, pink, and white wildflowers. This bloom attracts tourists from around the world and lasts only a few weeks before the desert returns to its lifeless state.

A Million People Live in the Driest Place

Despite the extreme conditions, over one million people call the Atacama region home. Cities like Antofagasta and Calama thrive thanks to massive copper and lithium mining operations. The Atacama holds roughly 28% of the world's copper reserves and some of the largest lithium deposits on Earth, making this barren desert one of the most economically valuable landscapes in South America.