Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert in the world where the mean annual rainfall is not even an inch. This is due to
1 Presence of Cold Peruvian current on the Chilean coast
2. It being situated in the interior of South American continent.
3 It lies in the rain-shadow of the Rockies.
Which of the above is/are correct?
Explanation:
Atacama is a desert because –
• It lies in the zone of easterlies but the Andes act as barrier to these winds.
• The cold Humboldt Current leads to saturation of air passing over it thereby preventing them from capturing any moisture.
• Continentality is not a factor in case of Atacama as it is located on the west coast of South America.