GEOGRAPHY THROUGH MAPS
Atacama Desert
The Atacama is a non-polar desert in northern Chile, between the Pacific coastal margin and the Andes. Some core areas experience exceptionally little rainfall.
Fast Facts
- Locate it west of the central Andes and south of Peru’s coastal desert.
- Copper deposits and lithium-bearing salt-basin brines are economically important, but they have different origins.
- Rare rainfall, coastal fog and high-elevation wetlands produce environmental contrasts within the wider desert region.
Connected lessons
- Atacama DesertMap, explanation and practice
- Why is the west coast so dry?Guided exploration
Geographical connections
- Humboldt CurrentRelated places
- AndesRelated places
- Chuquicamata copper mineRelated places
- Lithium TriangleRelated places
- Patagonian DesertRelated places
- Peruvian guano coastRelated places
- Ojos del SaladoRelated places
- Rain-shadow effectInfluenced by
- Humboldt CurrentInfluenced by
- Subtropical high pressureInfluenced by
- Patagonian DesertCompare with
- Humboldt CurrentEast of
- ChileLocated in