Deserts and Life - The Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world's second driest region (icy Antarctica is first). Although the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the region, the Atacama Desert lies in the rain shadow of Chile's Coast Range, which squeezes out the moisture from the atmosphere. The desert is completely barren and while most areas only receive moisture from an occasional fog or a shower every few decades, the rain gauge at Calama has never recorded any measurable precipitation.