The correct answer is option 1, Atacama. The Atacama Desert is located in South America, primarily in Chile. It is widely recognized as the driest desert in the world. The region has very low precipitation rates and is essentially a rain shadow desert, created by the Andes Mountains blocking moisture from the Pacific Ocean. These conditions result in an extremely arid environment, with some areas going years without rainfall and others never receiving any rain at all. The Atacama Desert is known for its vast salt flats, unique rock formations, and lack of vegetation. Additionally, its high altitude and lack of cloud cover make it one of the best places on Earth for astronomical observations. It is worth noting that while the Gobi, Sahara, and Kalahari deserts are also dry, they do not hold the same distinction as the Atacama in terms of being the driest.