The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, can certainly be called the driest place in the world, even the desert in Africa receives more moisture than this godforsaken place. Rains are extremely rare here, there are areas where precipitation falls once a decade, and there are places where not a single case of rain has been recorded in the entire history of mankind.
The Atacama is hot all year round, during the day the temperature does not fall below 36°C, and at night it can drop to 0°C. Humidity is only 0%. It would seem that under such conditions, the Atacama Desert should be completely lifeless, because living beings need to eat something, and even water in these parts is almost impossible to get. But still, about 200 species of various inhabitants live here and cacti grow (up to 160 species).
Of all living beings in the desert, most of all are insects and reptiles. These unfortunates can only rely on water in the form of fogs and very fine water suspension. For the whole year, no more than 0.1 mm of precipitation falls in the Atacama. From the side of the riverThe Amazon humid air cannot reach these places because the mountains interfere. Rivers descend from the Andes into the desert, but they all get lost in the s alt marshes. The accumulated water forms small s alt lakes, the scorching sun dries them up, and only a s alt cover of impressive thickness remains.
When viewed from a distance, it looks like an ordinary lake, but up close it turns out to be just a s alt surface shining in the burning sun. When broken, lagoons can form, where coots and flamingos live.
The Atacama Desert to the east gradually turns into the Antiplano Highlands, which is considered one of the most beautiful regions in Chile. Tropical rains are possible here in January and February, although they are irregular. The fauna and flora of these places is very rich compared to the desert. There are a large number of protected areas and national parks on the highlands.
The most amazing, beautiful, mysterious and alluring place on the planet is Atacama. The desert keeps many secrets and unusual sights, one of which is a sculpture in the form of a giant hand. It reaches a height of about 11 meters. The sculpture makes one think about human vulnerability. The giant buried in the sands is absolutely helpless, as if asking for help.
The Atacama Desert does not provide an opportunity for the indigenous population to engage in agriculture, so it is practically not developed here. There are many copper deposits in this region (even the rocks are covered with green due to the oxidation of minerals).raid), so people are engaged in mining.
The Atacama Desert hides one of the most beautiful places on the planet - Moon Valley. The landscape is so beautiful and unusual that it has been chosen for the filming of more than one sci-fi movie. Under the influence of wind and water, a surface of sand, s alt and stone was formed here, resembling the surface of the moon. The sunset in the valley is especially beautiful, saturated with a rich range of colors.
Once a year the desert comes to life. No one can predict the exact date, but this amazing event always happens at night, when a cloud with life-giving moisture comes from the sea. As soon as it falls to the ground, bright red flowers immediately appear from under the stones. At dawn, the buds bloom, and by noon they completely burn out under the burning sun, only to reappear the next year.
