Explore one of the world's driest regions and learn why parts of Chile's Atacama Desert never see rainfall
Atacama Desert, Chile.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Ellis Island and a photo montage of immigrants to the United States.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Some of the world's tallest mountains are actually growing.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about mining and refining copper from Chile's Atacama Desert.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about modern urban life in South America, as seen in Lima, Peru, and Santiago and Valparaíso, Chile.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the Strait of Magellan.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about mining and refining copper from the Atacama Desert, northern Chile.
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)
Transcript
NARRATOR: Along the coastline of northern Chile lies the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions in the world. Due in part to the effects of the Peru Current, there are areas in the Atacama Desert where no rainfall has ever been recorded.
Last Modification: