Salar de Atacama, Chile

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The Atacama Salt Desert runs along part of the west-central coast of South America. It is considered one of the driest places on Earth. Being a 'coastal desert', the cold, rising waters of the Pacific Ocean inhibit rain from reaching land.

Because of the high altitude of the Atacama Plateau, low cloud cover and absence of light pollution, it is one of the best places in the world for astronomical observations and is home to two large observatories.

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Some areas of the desert have been compared to the planet Mars and were used as a location to film scenes set on the red planet. Even the European Space Agency has tested a vehicle in the region, given the similarities to Martian conditions.

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Image taken in

November 17, 20177

Copernicus Sentinel