We take a look at some of the driest places on the planet.
Although nearly 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, there are some regions that do not receive rainfall for years. Let's take a look at the top 10 driest places on this planet.
Pelican Point, Namibia
This tiny jetty is a long, flat peninsula of sand, stretching into the South Atlantic Ocean. It's quite popular among wave surfers.
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Iquique, Chile
Average rainfall per year: 0.2 inches (5.08 millimeters)
The port city, which lies west of the famous Atacama Desert, has a mild desert-like climate with low extremes of temperature and very little rainfall, if at all. It is also home to the country's premier beach resorts.
The port city, which lies west of the famous Atacama Desert, has a mild desert-like climate with low extremes of temperature and very little rainfall, if at all. It is also home to the country's premier beach resorts.
Wadi Halfa, Sudan
Average rainfall per year: 0.096 inches (2.45 millimeters)
The desert city, which is part of the greater Sahara Desert, is hailed as the sunniest place on the planet — receiving the highest mean amount of bright sunshine. The region experiences long, hot summers and short, warm winters, with hardly any rain.
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The desert city, which is part of the greater Sahara Desert, is hailed as the sunniest place on the planet — receiving the highest mean amount of bright sunshine. The region experiences long, hot summers and short, warm winters, with hardly any rain.
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Ica, Peru
Average rainfall per year: 0.09 inches (2.29 millimeters)
The region, which borders the famous Atacama Desert, is known for preserving pre-Columbia mummies as it stops the decomposition process with its dry air. The city, however, was not always this dry: in 2007, scientists found fossil evidences of penguins that used to inhabit the area around 30 million years ago.
The region, which borders the famous Atacama Desert, is known for preserving pre-Columbia mummies as it stops the decomposition process with its dry air. The city, however, was not always this dry: in 2007, scientists found fossil evidences of penguins that used to inhabit the area around 30 million years ago.
Luxor, Egypt
Average rainfall per year: 0.034 inches (0.862 millimeters)
Considered to be one of the hottest, driest, and sunniest cities in the world, this Egyptian city is home to exquisite antiquities. The region, which sometimes experiences hot winds — known as Khamsin — blowing from the nearby Western Desert, is prone to sandstorms too. Throughout the year, the climate is extremely clear, bright and sunny with around 4,000 hours of annual sunshine.
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Considered to be one of the hottest, driest, and sunniest cities in the world, this Egyptian city is home to exquisite antiquities. The region, which sometimes experiences hot winds — known as Khamsin — blowing from the nearby Western Desert, is prone to sandstorms too. Throughout the year, the climate is extremely clear, bright and sunny with around 4,000 hours of annual sunshine.
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Aswan, Egypt
Average rainfall per year: 0.0338 inches (0.861 millimeters)
Though the city is known for being near the Aswan Dam on the river Nile, it is unusually dry with relative humidity of only 26%. The region experiences average high temperature of above 104°F (40°C) during summers, while winters are short, brief and warm with average low temperatures remaining above 46.4°F (8°C).
Though the city is known for being near the Aswan Dam on the river Nile, it is unusually dry with relative humidity of only 26%. The region experiences average high temperature of above 104°F (40°C) during summers, while winters are short, brief and warm with average low temperatures remaining above 46.4°F (8°C).
Kufra, Libya
Average rainfall per year: 0.0338 inches (0.860 millimeters)
The driest spot in Africa is home to a handful of oases that nurture people and animals. It's also one of the few regions wherein irrigation is possible due to natural underground springs and crops such as peaches, dates and apricots are cultivated.
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The driest spot in Africa is home to a handful of oases that nurture people and animals. It's also one of the few regions wherein irrigation is possible due to natural underground springs and crops such as peaches, dates and apricots are cultivated.
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Arica, Chile
Average rainfall per year: 0.03 inches (0.761 millimeters)
The Chilean city hardly receives any rainfall but still it's quite humid with wet air. Surrounded by the Atacama Desert, which hasn't received rain in more than 500 years, the region is known as the driest inhabited place on the planet when measured by rainfall.
The Chilean city hardly receives any rainfall but still it's quite humid with wet air. Surrounded by the Atacama Desert, which hasn't received rain in more than 500 years, the region is known as the driest inhabited place on the planet when measured by rainfall.
McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Average rainfall per year: 0 inches (0 millimeters)
The world's driest place is located in the southernmost continent. The snow-free Dry Valley, spread over the area of 1,900 square miles (4,800 square kilometers), has very low humidity and it forms the largest ice-free zone. One of the main reasons for the dryness is the surrounding high mountains that block the seaward flowing ice from reaching the area.
The world's driest place is located in the southernmost continent. The snow-free Dry Valley, spread over the area of 1,900 square miles (4,800 square kilometers), has very low humidity and it forms the largest ice-free zone. One of the main reasons for the dryness is the surrounding high mountains that block the seaward flowing ice from reaching the area.
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