[thechat] the driest spot in the world

[Lachlan Cannon]

javier velasco wrote:
>>>I remember a book saying that the Sahara desert in Africa is the driest place in
>>>the world. It was just that book. I never tried to confirm it, therefore, don't
>>>know the real facts.
>>
>>I've always been told it's Antarctica...
>
>
> hi Lach:
>
> i was about to ask if you were joking, but then i did a bit of search,
> and apparently you're right...
>
> "Atacama Desert
> The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world's second driest region
> (icy Antarctica is first). Although the Tropic of Capricorn passes
> through the region, the Atacama lies in the rain shadow of Chile's Coast
> Range, which squeezes out the moisture from the atmosphere."
>
> http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa102698.htm
>
> ....I don't understand it though, since Antartica is all about ice and
> snow, how can it be dry?

Because the snow and ice is all locked up in the ground. It's the
hardest place on earth to get water in it's water form. Or so I assume.

--
Lach
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