The Atacama Desert is a desert located in northern Chile, and is the driest non-polar desert in the world. It covers an area of 105, 000 square miles and is home to some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth. The Atacama Desert is known for its high levels of aridity, with some areas receiving less than one millimeter of rainfall per year. The desert is also home to a variety of unique flora and fauna, including the iconic cacti and lizards.