This dry air has almost no water vapor so it can be easily heated by the sun, causing high ground temperatures with very low humidity. Another reason that the Atacama doesn't get enough rainfall is because of a phenomenon called rainshadow.Simply so, why does it not rain in the Atacama Desert?
The Atacama is a desert not because mountains make a rain shadow, but because the ocean does. The water on the west part of Chile is quite cold, because it came from Antarctica. Moisture cannot stay in the cold air above the cold water, so mainly fog reaches the land, but very little rain.
Also Know, why is the Atacama Desert the driest place on Earth? Three different reasons contribute to the Atacama Desert being the driest place on earth. The first reason is that the desert sits on the wrong side of the Andes with regards to prevailing winds. The moisture condenses, and falls on the opposite side of the Andes to the Atacama. This is commonly known as a rain shadow.
Also Know, how long did the Atacama desert go without rain?
Arica, Chile, in the northern Atacama holds the world record for the longest dry streak, having gone 173 months without a drop of rain in the early 20th century.
Why do some areas get almost no rain?
The reason why this region receives no rain is due to Katabatic winds, winds from the mountains that are so heavy with moisture that gravity pulls them down and away from the Valleys. One feature of note is Lake Bonney, a saline lake situated in the Dry Valleys.
Is there a place on earth where it has never rained?
It's literally too windy to snow there, so precipitation gets wicked away as soon as it appears. But the driest non-polar spot on Earth is even more remarkable. There are places in Chile's Atacama Desert where rain has never been recorded—and yet, there are hundreds of species of vascular plants growing there.Where is the wettest place on earth?
The Wettest Places In The World - Mawsynram, India. Mawsynram, located in the Meghalaya State in India, is the wettest place in the world.
- Cherrapunji, India. Cherrapunji is located only 15 kilometers from Mawsynram in Meghalaya.
- Tutunendo, Colombia.
- Cropp River, New Zealand.
Where is the driest place on Earth?
Atacama Desert
Where is the driest place in Ireland?
The driest weather station is Casement Aerodrome, which receives 711.4 mm (28.01 in) of rain per year, on average.Why is Patagonia a cold desert?
Frost is not uncommon in the desert but, due to the very dry condition year round, snow is rare. The Andes, to the desert's west, are the primary reason for the Patagonian desert status as they inhibit the westerly flow of moisture from the southern Pacific from reaching inland.Why does the Atacama Desert have fog?
The Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, is able to maintain a sufficient level of plant and animal species biodiversity because of its status as a fog desert. Within arid fog deserts with low precipitation levels, fog drip provides the moisture needed for agricultural development.How big is the Atacama Desert?
105,000 km²
Where is the Atacama Desert found?
Chile
What is the coldest place on Earth?
Antarctica
What caused deserts?
They are caused by cold ocean currents, which run along the coast. They cool the air and make it harder for the air to hold moisture. Most moisture falls as rain before it reaches the land, eg the Namib Desert in Africa. Some deserts form in areas that lie at great distances from the sea.What plants live in the Atacama Desert?
Three cacti are endemic to the northern part of the Atacama desert; they are Eulychnia iquiquensis, Neoporteria sensu and Copiapoa sp.Why is Chile so dry?
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth, and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains and by the Chilean Coast Range. The cold Humboldt Current and the Pacific Anticyclone are essential to keep the dry climate of Atacama Desert.When was the Atacama desert discovered?
From about 1530 to 1700, “Atacama” designated a remote but strategic political province whose lack of population rather than desert climate was emphasized. After about 1700, however, the Atacama began to be identified as an arid region as a result of increasingly scientific mapping and exploration.Where did the Atacama desert get its name from?
The name for this region is, in Spanish, "Desierto de Atacama", which translates as "Atacama Desert".What mountain range runs along the west coast of South America?
Andes mountain range
What is the driest place and how much precipitation do they get?
Atacama desert
What do you wear to the Atacama Desert?
Swimsuit, warm weather clothing, sun cream, sun hat and sunglasses. Warm jacket, trousers, sweater, fleece, windbreaker, gloves and hat. Binoculars for wildlife-watching and camera equipment for capturing your surroundings. Day-pack for excursions into the Atacama. 
