Table of Contents
What is an interesting fact about the Atacama Desert?
1. The Atacama Desert sits between the Andes and Chilean Coast Range at such a height that prevents moisture reaching it from the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. It receives less than 1mm of rainfall per year and some parts of the desert have no recorded rainfall at all.
How long is the Atacama Desert?
600 to 700 miles
Atacama Desert, Spanish Desierto de Atacama, cool, arid region in northern Chile, 600 to 700 miles (1,000 to 1,100 km) long from north to south.
How hot does it get in the Atacama Desert?
The temperature in the Atacama Desert can reach highs of around 104°F (40°C) during the dayime, whilst falling to temperatures of 41°F (5°C) or below at night. The Atacama Desert is 50 times drier than Death Valley.
How is the Atacama Desert important?
The Atacama Desert is the center of copper mining in Chile and also has commercial gold and silver mines. Owing to recent demands for lithium, mining also extends to the salt-rich brines, which are the world’s second-largest reserve.
How hot is the Atacama Desert?
Old, hot and dry In other deserts around the world, like the Sahara, the mercury can soar above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). But temperatures in the Atacama are comparatively mild throughout the year. The average temperature in the desert is about 63 degrees F (18 degrees C).
How hot is it in the Atacama Desert?
In other deserts around the world, like the Sahara, the mercury can soar above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). But temperatures in the Atacama are comparatively mild throughout the year. The average temperature in the desert is about 63 degrees F (18 degrees C).
What is so unusual about Atacama Desert known for?
The Atacama Desert is a very, very dry place, making it ideal for stargazing. There are few clouds and no pollution. The sunset is otherworldly. The Valley of the Moon is where many people would go to see the breathtaking sunsets that turn the Andes mountain range in gold, red and pink.
Why is the Atacama Desert the driest desert?
The Atacama Desert forms part of the arid Pacific fringe of South America. Dry subsidence created by the South Pacific high-pressure cell makes the desert one of the driest regions in the world.
What is the Atacama desert’s geographic significance?
The Atacama Desert (Spanish: Desierto de Atacama) is a desert plateau in South America covering a 1,600 km (990 mi) strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes Mountains running through Chile and Peru.The Atacama Desert is the driest nonpolar desert in the world, as well as the only true desert to receive less precipitation than the polar deserts and the largest fog desert in the world.
How did the Atacama Desert get its name?
Its name comes from its unearthly terrain resembling that of the moon. The valley consists of enormous sand dunes, and salt rocks, created entirely by erosion over time. The strong winds and stark temperature change from day to night have given this place its distinctive look.