The world's 'driest place' that barely sees any rain falling - but 200k people live there

The world has a few incredibly dry places, and when you think of them, deserts probably come to mind. From the Sahara in Africa to the Arabian Desert in the Middle East, these areas are known for their scorching heat and lack of rain. Yet neither of them is the driest place on the planet.

That title goes to a small city in northern Chile, right next to the Pacific Ocean. The city goes by the name of Arica and is believed to be the driest inhabited place on Earth. According to Argentinian TV channel Canal 26, it receives just 0.76 millimetres of rain per year. That’s less than a single drop per week, and some years go by without any rainfall at all.

Yet, incredibly, over 200,000 people call Arica home. The city was founded in 1541 and is located close to the Peruvian border.

It’s also part of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on the planet. Some areas of the desert haven’t seen rain in over 500 years.

So how does a city by the sea become so dry?

It all comes down to geography and climate. One of the main reasons is the Humboldt Current, a cold ocean current that flows along South America’s Pacific coast.

According to Britannica, the cold air it creates doesn’t rise easily, so clouds don’t form, and rain doesn’t fall.

The Andes Mountains also play a role. They act as a natural barrier, blocking moist air from the Amazon from reaching the west.

On top of that, high atmospheric pressure over the region leads to clear skies almost all year round.

Despite the extreme dryness, Arica doesn’t suffer from the intense heat you'd expect. Temperatures are relatively mild, between 15C and 26C most of the year, and rarely drop below 12C even in winter.

That, combined with its coastal location, makes it surprisingly livable and even popular with tourists.

Arica has adapted to its climate with water brought in from other areas, and it continues to thrive.

It acts as a commercial hub for northern Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, and is still a free port for Bolivian trade.

The city also has beautiful beaches, easy access to the Azapa Valley, known for olives and archaeological sites, and stunning desert landscapes.

There is also the El Morro headland that rises above the city and offers views of the coastline and the Atacama.