Where is the driest place on Earth?
Quick Answer
The driest places on Earth are the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, some of which may not have seen rain for millions of years, and the Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest non-polar desert.
The Full Story
Two contenders share the title of driest place on Earth. The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are extraordinarily arid; strong, dry winds strip away moisture, and some areas are thought to have gone without significant precipitation for up to two million years, making them the closest earthly match to the surface of Mars. Among non-polar deserts, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest, with some weather stations having recorded no measurable rainfall for years at a time, and average rainfall in its core measured in just a few millimetres per year. Both places are so dry because of geography that blocks moisture: Antarctica extreme cold locks up water as ice, while the Atacama sits in a double rain shadow between mountain ranges and beside a cold ocean current.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Driest Places on Earth — Where Rain Almost Never Falls"