Andes mountains and Atacama desert, shuttle image. This view looks south over the Andes Mountains and Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The Atacama Desert (on the coast at right) is one of the driest regions on Earth. Several salt flats are visible. At upper right, in a haze, are the Chaco Plains and Pampas. Clouds are seen over the Pacific at upper right. This image was obtained on 23 July 1994, during mission STS-65 by the space shuttle Columbia (Orbiter Vehicle 102).