Northward of these, there is one other very miserable valley, called Paposo, which contains about two hundred souls; and then there extends the real desert of Atacama -- a barrier far worse than the most turbulent ocean.

In addition, for more than 3,000years, the technological innovations introduced in the Atacama Desert have focused almost exclusively on increasing the extraction capacities of this resource (Maldonado et al.

Led by Washington State University planetary scientist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, an international team studied the driest corner of South America's Atacama Desert, where decades pass without any rain.

It may rain once a decade or less in South America's Atacama Desert, but tiny bacteria and microorganisms survive there, hinting at the possibility of similar life on Mars, researchers said.The desert, which spans parts of Chile and Peru, is the driest non-polar desert on Earth and may contain the environment most like that of the Red Planet, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

(OTCQB: WCTXF) (TSX Venture: LIC) has closed a deal with Chile-based Durus Copper Chile Spa of Santiago whereby LiCo can earn up to a 60% interest in the Purickuta Lithium Exploitation Concession located within Chile's Salar de Atacama, the company said.

In fact, scientists have found remains of freshwater plants and animals in the driest place on the planet, the Atacama Desert.

Meanwhile another containers ship Atacama also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES reports the Atacama range of modular air dryers it manufactures has been extended to incorporate a third filtration tower.

Gold is mainly found in the Antofagasta, Atacama and Elqui provinces, while silver reserves are located in Antofagasta and Atacama.