The World's Most Interesting Borders: A Journey Through the Weird and Wonderful

7. Peru and Chile

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Atacama Desert borders Area: 160 km^* Estimated GDP: $503 billion (in Chile) or $444 billion (in Peru) The Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on earth, forms a striking border between Chile and Peru. This huge, arid region forms a natural barrier along the Pacific coast that has influenced both countries' historical and cultural development. The hostile landscape of the desert has served as the setting for important geopolitical moments, such as the War of the Pacific in the late 1800s, which changed the path of the border.Peru and Chile ©Shutterstock/Vaclav Sebek These days, the Atacama serves as both a physical barrier and a symbol of the tenacity of human endeavour, with both nations using its distinctive landscapes for tourism, astronomy, and mineral resources.