Water
The groundwater is unusable and there is rarely rain so the animals and plants are hard pressed to survive.
Climate
The climate in The Atacama Desert is very dry, it is the driest desert in the world. The Atacama Desert is classified as a cool desert.
Temperature Range
Temperatures rarely exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Precipitation
Some places get no rain whatsoever and other places only have rain four times every 100 years. Every few years large amounts of rain fall and plants bloom. The main source of precipitation is fog.
Animals and Plants
Animals: kangaroo rats, lizards, hawks, snakes, and jackrabbits
Plants: cacti, grasses, and small shrubs
Plants: cacti, grasses, and small shrubs
The Impact of Geographic Location on Plants and Animals
Specific animals are made for specific areas, for example, if you put a penguin in a desert it would die. The penguin would need to be in a cold climate because that's what it was made for. Location is very important when you are talking about the survival of a species. The same goes for plants, if you put a tree that needs lots of water in The Atacama Desert then it would die.