3 facts
Explore Earth's most challenging places, from scorching deserts to freezing poles. Discover how life thrives in extreme environments and uncover fascinating facts.
The Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean plunges to nearly 36,070 feet (10,994 meters) at its Challenger Deep. If Mount Everest were placed at this spot, its peak would still be over a mile underwater.
A desert is defined by its low precipitation, not necessarily high temperatures. Antarctica receives less than 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) of precipitation annually, almost entirely as snow, making it the coldest and largest desert.
The Atacama Desert in Chile experiences extreme aridity due to a rain shadow effect and cold ocean currents. Some areas have not recorded rainfall for millions of years, making it a crucial research site for conditions similar to Mars.
