By Rajni Pandey | June 27, 2024
The Atacama Desert is often cited as the driest place on Earth. It receives less than 1 mm of rainfall annually in some areas. Parts of the desert have never recorded any rain, making it an extreme example of a hyper-arid environment.
Image Credit: Canva
Despite being in Antarctica, the McMurdo Dry Valleys are one of the driest places on Earth. The area receives almost no precipitation and is covered by dry, barren rock. The lack of ice and snow is due to katabatic winds that can reach speeds of 200 mph.
Image Credit: Canva
Aswan is located in the Nubian Desert and receives very little rainfall, averaging about 1 mm per year. The region is known for its arid climate and high temperatures, making it one of the hottest and driest places in Africa.
Image Credit: Canva
While the Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, certain parts, like the central Sahara, are incredibly dry. Some regions receive less than 25 mm of rain annually. The desert is characterized by vast sand dunes and rocky plateaus.
Image Credit: Canva
The Lut Desert, or Dasht-e Lut, is not only one of the driest places but also one of the hottest. Some parts of the desert receive almost no precipitation, and surface temperatures can soar above 70°C (158°F).
Image Credit: Canva
The Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts in the world and is extremely dry, with some areas receiving less than 10 mm of rain annually. The coastal desert is known for its towering sand dunes and unique fog-driven moisture.
Image Credit: Canva
Ica, located in the Sechura Desert of Peru, is extremely dry, with annual precipitation often less than 2 mm. The region is known for its arid climate and the nearby Huacachina oasis, a rare natural wonder in such a dry area.
Image Credit: Canva
Wadi Halfa, situated near the Nubian Desert, experiences an arid climate with negligible rainfall, averaging less than 2.5 mm per year. The town is one of the hottest and driest inhabited places on Earth.
Image Credit: Canva
The Outback is a vast, remote area covering much of Australia. Certain parts, like the Simpson Desert, receive minimal rainfall, often less than 130 mm per year, making it one of the driest regions on the continent.
Image Credit: Canva
Death Valley is the hottest and driest national park in the United States. Some areas receive less than 60 mm of rain annually. The valley holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth, at 56.7°C (134°F).
Image Credit: Canva