For this reason, astronomers from around the world have come here to study the universe, developing the most important network of observatories. We invite you to discover the marvelous scenery that the Atacama Desert has for you and your family.
Partner Agency Access. YOUTH 12 to 17 years. What are you searching for? One of the most impressive places in the north of Chile is San Pedro de Atacama. The wind flow, the ocean currents and the surrounding mountains are some of the factors which create these fascinating and unique conditions. Nature Tierra Atacama. January 29, Diego Salas.
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Find out more about page archiving. BBC Scotland Homepage. Why is the Atacama Desert so dry? Comments Share this page. Meeting the locals in Quillagua Deserts are described as places receiving less than an average of mm of rain in a year. The ghost-town of Humberstone Another benefit is that the absence of clouds makes the Atacama the perfect place to watch the stars!
The clarity of the air has resulted in a number of observatories being constructed, the best known of which is the Paranal Observatory which Mark visited. Despite its remote location, this place must have the best road in Chile! Val Vannet Would you expect to find penguins in the desert?
Could there be penguins on Mars? Share this page. Comments Post your comment Sign in or register to comment. No comments to display yet. In , wildflowers bloomed the aftermath of a dramatic downpour. Similar rainstorms were reported in March and August of Although the rains awakened fields of wildflowers, the floods had devastating consequences for microbial life in the desert, which has adapted to survive without water.
Many microbes in the desert's hyperarid core, for instance, burst after absorbing too much rainwater. Scientists suspect that these catastrophic storms may become more frequent as the climate changes and atmospheric conditions in the Pacific Ocean fluctuate.
Much of the Atacama Desert's core is caked in thick salt deposits called playas, which can stretch for miles and are nearly half a meter thick 1. The desert is speckled with stones that have been carried across the playas by powerful wind gusts. Alluvial fans, which are large, fan-shaped sediment deposits, connect the desert plateau with the mountains that surround it and suggest that water once flowed from the Andes into the desert.
Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Password recovery. Atacama Desert. Dead Sea. Havasu Falls. Angel Falls. Both, in the day is hot about 35 c and at night is frezzing cold about c. Atacama Desert Facts Country: Argentina. Coordinates: Area in square miles: 40, Beauty Rating: 4.
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