Calama, Chile

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/calama-chile

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Calama, Chile?Northern Chile, within the Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Region
2. How many people live in Calama, Chile?147,886 (2012 census)
3. How big is Calama, Chile?The commune of Calama covers 23,480 km² (9,066 sq mi)
4. What is the capital of Calama, Chile?Capital city of El Loa Province
5. What is Calama like?Calama is a city in Chile that is one of the driest places on Earth, with almost no rain. It is surrounded by the Atacama Desert and has a very hot, dry climate.
6. Why is there almost no rain in Calama?Calama is far inland, high up, and the Andes mountains block rain, plus the cold Humboldt Current keeps the air dry. These things make the city very dry.

Hyper-arid: An extremely dry climate with virtually no rainfall, characteristic of the Atacama Desert.
Rain shadow effect: A region of significantly reduced rainfall on the leeward side of a mountain range.
Humboldt Current: A cold ocean current that flows along the coast of western South America, influencing regional climate.
Open-pit mining: A surface mining technique where minerals are extracted from a large excavation in the ground.