“Which is the world’s driest desert?”

"The Atacama Desert located in Chile is the world’s driest desert receiving less than 1 mm of rainfall annually in some areas. Its extreme aridity results from its position between the Andes and the Pacific blocking moisture. Despite its harsh conditions the Atacama hosts unique ecosystems and is a key site for astronomical observatories due to its clear skies. Its mineral wealth including copper and lithium drives economic activity. The desert’s unique environment also serves as a natural laboratory for studying extreme climates and planetary analogs."