Atacama Desert: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

A desert stirs to life: Chile's Atacama erupts in its biggest floral display in decades • Nov. 8, 2026, 6:00 AM ET (NPR)

Photos and Videos

Pan de Azucar National Park in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Map of South America highlighting the location of the Atacama Desert in orange along the western edge of the continent, primarily within northern Chile and extending slightly into southern Peru, near the Pacific Ocean.

Panoramic view of vicuna grazing on dry grass near white saltpans, with mountains and snow-capped peaks in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

A vivid tapestry of color

Thick plumes of steam rise from multiple geysers across a wide, flat plain at El Tatio in the Atacama Desert, Chile, with mountains visible in the background.

Explore one of the world's driest regions and learn why parts of Chile's Atacama Desert never see rainfall

Learn about how the fog in the Atacama Desert of Chile irrigates Chañaral province

Discover Chile's copper industry, from mining in the Atacama Desert to refining on the Pacific coast

Discover one key source of Chile's mineral wealth

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Topics

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Quick Quiz: Deserts