The Atacama Desert, a vast and unique western desert of South America straddling Chile and Peru, is one of the driest deserts in the world, almost the least inhabitable place on Earth, and has similarities to Mars. The desert is famous for its proud desert landscapes, peculiar rocks and spectacular salt lakes such as the famous Uyuni Salt Lake. In particular, the Atacama Desert is also an ideal place for astronomical research, with conditions suitable for observing the starry sky. As a result, many international observatories and astronomical observation facilities, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at the European Southern Observatory, have chosen to establish here.
The desert region also has a rich cultural heritage, once part of the ancient Inca Empire, leaving behind numerous archaeological and cultural sites such as San Pedro de Atacama in Chile and the Nazca Line in Peru. The Atacama Desert is so dry mainly because it is surrounded by a powerful high-pressure system that creates a "capping" effect that prevents moisture from rising into the desert, allowing little cloud formation and precipitation to occur. In addition, the Peruvian and coniferous currents near the desert are cold ocean currents on the west coast of South America, bringing cold water to nearby seas, reducing the amount of water vapor in the air and leaving desert areas without water supply.
Although rainfall is rare, there are still some groundwater veins in the desert, and people obtain groundwater resources by digging wells or using natural springs. In addition, occasional rainfall is cleverly collected for backup. For coastal residents, desalination technology converts seawater into fresh water to meet their daily and agricultural water needs. Governments and local communities pip water to the desert from distant sources. People also attach great importance to saving water resources, and various measures are taken to reduce waste and improve the effective use of water resources.
Now, let's take a look at another place in the world with extreme climates, located in Kirappunzi, Peru. Kirapunzi is known for its extremely high average annual rainfall of more than 11,500 mm, which is mainly attributed to its geographical location, proximity to the Amazon rainforest and the influence of the Andes. During the rainy season, the southwest monsoon carries a large amount of water vapor blocked by the Kasi mountains, and the air currents rise, forming the rainfall of Khirapunzi. In addition, when the southwest monsoon crosses the Ganges Delta, it brings some of the water vapor to this low-lying area, creating additional rainfall. The highest annual rainfall in Kirappongzi reached 26,461.2 mm. This region has a warm and humid climate, rich rainfall and humid climatic conditions, so it is known as the "city of oases" and is surrounded by greenery.
The abundant rainfall and humid climatic conditions make the land around Kilappongchi ideal for agriculture. Local farmers mainly grow crops such as coffee, cocoa, fruits and vegetables. In addition, Kirappongchi's beautiful scenery, unique climate and abundant natural resources attract tourists who come to explore the surrounding mountains, waterfalls, hot springs and traditional farmland. To sum up, both the Atacama Desert and Kila Penzi are unique and fascinating places that attract explorers, nature lovers and tourists to explore and study with their extreme climate and magnificent natural landscapes.