Various scientific processes can tell us what is a rain shadow, where they're located, and how life exists in such unforgiving conditions.

Far North Queensland may be renowned for its rainforests, monsoons and cyclones, but nestled in heart of the wet tropics the town of Mareeba claims to be a ray of sunshine.

Sun meter Sequim is the rain shadow’s geographic center. It averages 16.5 inches of rain a year, compared to Seattle’s 37 inches. Both Sequim and Port Townsend average 127 days of “mostly sunny” ...