How big is the Atacama Desert?
600 to 700 miles
Atacama Desert, Chile. 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 much land does the Atacama Desert cover?
According to estimates, the Atacama Desert occupies 105,000 km2 (41,000 sq mi), or 128,000 km2 (49,000 sq mi) if the barren lower slopes of the Andes are included….
| Atacama Desert | |
|---|---|
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders | Central Andean dry puna, Chilean matorral, and Sechura Desert |
| Geography |
Is Atacama the driest desert in the world?
It is important to note that there does exist an even more arid desert on the planet: the dry valleys of Antarctica. Which is why it’s more precise to say that the Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar place in the world.
Which is the 2nd driest place on Earth?
the Atacama Desert
The second driest place is the Atacama Desert, stretching 600 miles from Peru’s southern border into northern Chile along the Pacific Coast. No precipitation falls in the Dry Valleys and none for a few years at a time in portions of the Atacama.
What is the Atacama Desert climate?
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).
What cities are near the Atacama Desert?
The Escondida and Chuquicamata porphyry copper mines are located within the Atacama Desert. Inhabited towns in the desert include Copiapo , Vallenar, Huasco , Freirina, Caldera, Chanaral , Diego de Almagro , Chile, Taltal , Antofagasta , Calama, Chile, Tocopilla , and San Pedro de Atacama.
What town or city is the Atacama Desert in?
Calama is a city and commune in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It is the capital of El Loa Province, part of the Antofagasta Region. Calama is one of the driest cities in the world with average annual precipitation of just 5 mm. Close to Calama is the worlds largest copper mine as well as some interesting archeological sites.
Which continent is the Atacama Desert located on?
Atacama Desert. The Atacama Desert is a plateau that occupies the northwest parts of the Chilean coast on the continent of South America. It is the driest desert on the earth coming second only to the Antarctica.
Why is the Atacama Desert the driest region?
The Atacama desert is known as the driest desert in the world because the desert is tucked in the rain shadow region created by the Andes mountain and the Pacific ocean .
