Welcome to San Pedro de Atacama! This small town is located in the heart of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, which is considered by many scientests to be the driest desert on Earth. Some regions of this desert have seen no rainfall for centuries, and the average rainfall is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) per year! Despite its arid conditions, the area has incredible natural wonders such as salt flats, volcanoes, hot springs and colorful lagoons, all of which make it a popular tourist stop in Chile.
Besides being known for its incredibly dry climate, the Atacama Desert is also famous for its clear skies, making it one of the best places globally for stargazing! The combination of being at a high elevation above the lights of the cities and in the remote desert away from pollution results in breathtaking views of the Milky Way Galaxy. In fact, many of the worlds largest and most important telescopes used by astronomy researchers are located right here in this desert!
