We live on a planet where everything happens: regions where it rains so much that flooding is a major problem, others where it rains moderately, and others where it only rains a few centimeters... and not every year. This variety of places and climates makes Earth an incredible home.
Have you ever wondered where it rains the least? If so, don't miss this article. Join us on this journey to discover the driest place in the world.
The driest place in the world: María Elena Sur
The driest place on our planet is Maria Elena Sur (MES). Located in the region of yungayIn Chile, the MES is the driest place on planet Earth. With an average atmospheric relative humidity (RH) of 17.3% and a constant soil RH of 14% at one meter depth, you might think that life cannot survive here… but you'd be wrong.
The characteristics of this enclave are analogous to those of our neighboring planet, Mars, but scientists have found bacteria that live in these extreme conditions. As published in the magazine Environmental Microbiology ReportsThese microorganisms are an indication of the adaptive capacities of life.
Microorganisms and their surprising resistance
These microorganisms, discovered using molecular biology techniques, can help us understand the relationship between life and water. Not only do they survive in the driest region in the world, but they also have a high tolerance to ultraviolet radiation.
If there is life in MES, could there be one on Mars? Well, it's a possibility. Chilean scientist Armado Azúa-Bustos said that "if there is an analogous environment on Earth where we have detected viable microorganisms, the availability of water doesn't seem to be limiting for life on Mars," which is amazing, don't you think?
Understanding the molecular basis of high drought tolerance could help us develop more resistant plants, so who knows, maybe we could end up with fruit trees or vegetable plants that don't need as much water, something that would be crucial for agriculture in arid environments.
The Atacama Desert: an extreme climate
El Atacama Desert It is famous not only for being the driest place in the world, but also for its stunning landscapes and extreme climates. According to the European Space Agency, this place in the world only knows rainfall between two and four times per centuryIn some parts of the desert, it is said that it hasn't rained for 500 years. In others, no rainfall has ever been recorded. To learn more about this phenomenon of low rainfall, visit What everyone should know about desert climate.
This is mainly because the Atacama Desert is part of the arid Pacific coast of South America. This phenomenon is known as rain shadow, where the Andes Mountains block humid air from the Amazon, and the Peruvian (Humboldt) Current generates an upward movement of cold water from the ocean, causing a temperature inversion. For more information on desert conditions, visit What is the weather like in the desert?.
Although the Atacama Desert receives very little rainfall, there are ingenious ways in which the inhabitants of the region collect water. The fog, known locally as 'camanchaca', becomes a vital source of humidity. This fog is collected by plants and animals alike, including the humans who inhabit the region, who use it 'mist nets' to capture it and convert it into drinking water, which represents a remarkable adaptation to its environment.
The conditions are so extreme that it is sometimes called the 'Mars' of Earth“You could literally fall, cut your arm on a rock, and not worry about getting an infection because there are no local pathogens,” said Brian Glass, principal investigator for the Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS; 2016–2019).
In fact, NASA has used several regions of Atacama as rover testing ground, considering it the perfect analogue of the Red Planet. This highlights the importance of the desert in astrobiology and space exploration. For more information on other deserts, see the deserts of the world.
Life in the Atacama Desert
While there is little life in the desert, the region is becoming more vibrant (humanly speaking). Until relatively recently, the area was sparsely inhabited. San Pedro de Atacama, gateway to the desert, there were very few who dared to face the harsh conditions that Atacama offers.
“Almost no one lived here before. We were a village of about 200 people with no electricity or running water. I remember the first person who got a refrigerator. I remember the first television,” Mary, a local guide, explained to National Geographic.
But now the situation has changed dramatically. Its unique and spectacular landscapes have attracted numerous Tourists. He too astrotourism has attracted thousands of people, as it is one of the best places in the world to see the stars. Currently, Chile has the 40% of all astronomical observations worldwideIf you are interested in the phenomenon of the flowering desert, you can learn more here.
The economy of the region has been dominated by the mining is., which has been the main source of income for several decades. Deposits of nitrates were exploited from the mid-19th century and Chile had a world monopoly on the production of this material before the First World War. Although the main source of income in the region is mining copper in Chuquicamata, in the Calama basin, where extraction takes place in an environment that could be considered the driest place in the world.
In recent years, Lithium has also gained importance. The Salar de Atacama is the largest lithium brine deposit in the world and is home to almost all of Chile's production of a metal that will be key to the world's energy transition. This resource has attracted global attention, as lithium is an essential component for electric vehicle batteries and other technological devices.
The flowering desert phenomenon, which frequently occurs after unusual rainfall, brings a burst of color to a normally arid landscape. This not only visually transforms the region but also has an impact on the local ecosystem.
