25 Most Extreme Places To Survive on Earth

3. Atacama Desert, Chile

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is legendary for its dryness. Some areas have never recorded measurable rainfall in human history. With a landscape so barren and alien, it has earned comparisons to Mars—and for good reason. Life here clings to the edges of possibility, with only the most specialized plants and animals managing to survive. This striking, sun-baked terrain is so reminiscent of the Red Planet that NASA routinely tests Mars rovers within its bounds.