Gabriel lives along Chile's Pacific coast. He enjoys making cactus candies for his family using the plants he passes when he goes on his nightly walks. It is important that he takes plenty of water on his walks because he lives in one of the driest regions in the world.

Which ecosystem does Gabriel live in?

A. the Atacama Desert

B. the Amazon Rainforest

C. the coniferous forest in the Central American mountains

D. the deciduous forest in the South American mountains

The correct answer is A. Gabriel lives in the Atacama Desert.

Explanation:

The Atacama Desert is located in the northern region of Chile to the border with Peru. With about 1000 km of extension, it is considered the highest desert in the world. It is the driest non-polar desert in the world, because it rarely rains in the region as a result of sea currents in the Pacific Ocean failing to pass into the desert because of its altitude. Thus, when they evaporate, moist clouds discharge their contents before reaching the desert, leaving them during rainless seasons.

According to estimates, the Atacama Desert occupies 105,000 square kilometers, or 128,000 square kilometers if the lower slopes of the Andes are included. Most of the desert is composed of rocky terrain, salt lakes and sand.

A. The Atacama Desert