Driest Places on Earth

Fallon, Nevada, has a desert climate that delivers hot summers and cold winters. It is abnormally dry due to its location in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada, meaning that the mountains block most precipitation. Despite its relative lack of rain, Fallon is occasionally susceptible to flash floods.

Wake Island is an atoll and territory of the U.S. located nearly 2,500 miles from Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. It was uninhabited when first discovered by explorers in the 16th century, though it is now home to about 100 residents. While rainfall is light, on average, the island is vulnerable to occasional tropical storms and typhoons.

Ruoqiang is located near the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert and has a cold desert climate. It is the driest place in China. The little rain it does receive generally falls during the summer months.

Algeria’s Tindouf is located in the country’s westernmost region and borders Mauritania, the disputed territory Western Sahara, and Morocco. It has a subtropical hot desert climate and though it receives little rain throughout the year, it occasionally has rain-related flooding, including an event in 2015 that affected 25,000 people.

Atar is a town and an oasis located in Mauritania. Located in the Sahara Desert, it has a hot desert climate. Agriculture has suffered due to drought and water management problems in recent years.