"Venus-like Destination: The Sunniest Place on Earth"

The Altiplano of the Atacama Desert in South America has been identified as the sunniest place on Earth, with sunlight intensity comparable to that of Venus. Satellite data and an atmospheric observatory confirmed the record-breaking solar irradiance, reaching 2,177 watts per square meter during a burst of summer sun in January 2017. The year-round average was 308 watts per square meter, the highest worldwide. The intense sunlight is partially due to reflection from high-altitude broken clouds. The researchers suggest that the Chajnantor Plateau in the Atacama Desert could be an ideal location for testing future photovoltaic power plants.