| ATACAMA | The ___ Desert in South America is one of the driest places in the world (7) |
| UNREAL | A foreign capital in South America is out of this world (6) |
| GOBI | Large, cold desert and grassland region located in China and Mongolia, the _ Desert (4) |
| DIS | Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," is one |
| ECUADOR | Which Republic in western South America is dominated by the Andes and has Quito as its capital? (7) |
| SIMPSON | Name a large Australian desert in south-eastern NT and parts of Qld and SA (7) |
| SERCIAL | White Portuguese grape variety that produces the driest classic style of Madeira wine (7) |
| NEVADAN | One in the driest state |
| AMERICANSAMOA | Last inhabited place in the world to welcome the New Year of the Gregorian calendar, located in the southern Pacific Ocean (8,5) |
| SONORAN | ___ Desert, straddling Arizona, California and Mexico (7) |
| LAVERNE | Lauren ___, Desert Island Discs host (7) |
| AMAZON | The ___ river dolphin of South America is also known as the boto (6) |
| UGLY | "Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ____ mathematics" (GH Hardy) |
| PAINTED | Arizona's ___ Desert |
| CRIMSON | ___ Desert (highly anticipated video game with a colorful name) |
| NEWZEALAND | Enthusiasm behind the unfamiliar, and our place in the world (3,7) |
| ANTARCTICA | WIND_Commonwealth Bay, located here, is the windiest place in the world; tours start at around $18,000 |
| ICECAPS | Really cool places in the world for 5 down joining society (3,4) |
| AGOUTI | What long-legged, rabbit sized burrowing rodent of Central and South America is valued as food? (6) |
| DISTRUSTED | Was very wary of the driest dust being whipped up (10) |
