Subject: Why does moisture from the Pacific not form over the Atacama desert?

I am a 6th grade Science and Social Studies.  I have explained 
to my astute 6th graders that the Andes mountains cause the 
western coast of South America to be dry and the area on the 
eastern side of the Andes mountains to be a large rainforest. 
The Andes mountains cause the Atacama desert to be the driest 
place in the world, with almost no rainfall.  Their question to 
me was if the Atacama desert is next to the Pacific, why would 
moisture from the ocean not form rain in clouds over the Atacama 
desert?  I searched your databases but could not find an exact 
fit for this question.  Also, if you can think of a hands-on lab 
that I could demonstrate to show the answer it would really help 
for this age group. Thank you. (146 words)

Re: Why does moisture from the Pacific not form over the Atacama desert?

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