The Atacama Desert is located in Chile. Often regarded as the driest non-polar desert in the world, it spans about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The desert’s unique climate is characterized by very low precipitation, with some areas receiving less than 1 millimeter of rain per year. The Atacama features a diverse ecosystem, including salt flats, geothermal fields, and unique flora and fauna adapted to extreme aridity. Its otherworldly landscapes also make it a popular destination for astronomy due to its clear skies and minimal light pollution.