Where is the Atacama Desert located?

The Atacama Desert is located on the western coast of South America, right along the Pacific Ocean. It stretches nearly 600 miles from the southern border of Peru into northern Chile.

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest regions in the world. It receives only 4 inches of rain every 1,000 years. Years can pass without the desert receiving one drop of rain. The lack of moisture in the Atacama Desert makes living there impossible; not one single living thing calls the desert home. Unlike other deserts, the Atacama is not scorching hot. The average summer temperature is 66 degrees Fahrenheit.