The "desierto florido" (flowering desert) is one of the strangest but most spectacular natural phenomena in Chile, specifically in the Atacama Desert, considered the driest place in the world. It is characterized by the massive flowering of a great variety of species of native and endemic flora, which occurs every five to seven years between the months of September and November, triggered by unusual rainfall associated with the occurrence of El Niño episodes. This condition is especially given south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the flowering desert can be seen in all its splendor in the region that extends from north of Vallenar to Copiapo.
Paradoxically, the driest desert in the world is home to this phenomenon, but when it happens, because the rains have exceeded normal levels, millions of seeds that were dormant due to little or no moisture germinate, along with a proliferation of birds, insects, lizards and rodents attracted by this true reawakening of nature. At that time, the sight of many areas of the Atacama Desert seemed more like large agricultural plantations than a region of great aridity. It should be noted that in 2015, due to the intensification of El Niño, there was an exceptional occurrence of the flowering desert, because it occurred not only in the spring between September and November, but also between April and May.
Among the variety of flowers that carpet the desert during this period, the most representative is what locals call "Pata de Guanaco" (Guanaco's Foot, scientific name Calandrinia longiscapa), also the "Añañuca" (whose scientific term is Rhodophiala rhodolirion), the "Garra de Leon" (Bomarea ovallei), light blue and lilac "Suspiros", white and blue "Malvillas", "Orejas de Zorro", etc. Usually, the most privileged places to appreciate this phenomenon are the Parque Nacional LLanos de Challe, a protected natural area on the coast of the Third Region of Atacama and the Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar, located north of the city of Chañaral.
A negative aspect, as almost always, has been in charge of the human being: the number of visitors attracted by the spectacle and the illegal trade of flowers have endangered the regeneration of some species. However, it is good to know that for years the INIA (National Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute) through its Seed Bank, is taking action to keep the seeds out of their natural environment. They are stored in botanical gardens to ensure the survival of the species for a term not less than 50 years. Among other facilities, there is a storage chamber at -18°C and 35% RH.
Tours
 |
| Image: emol |
Comments
Post a Comment