The driest place in the world sometimes turns into a flower carpet
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is considered the driest place on Earth: in some areas, there might be no rain for years. But from time to time, it turns into a real flower carpet, writes The Times of India.
Photo: chiletravelmag.ru
This unusual phenomenon occurs because plant seeds are preserved in the desert soil, which can remain in a "dormant" state for a long time. They do not die from heat and lack of water and await favorable conditions.
When a sufficient amount of precipitation falls — approximately 15-30 mm of rain — the seeds quickly absorb moisture and germinate en masse. As a result, in a short time, the desert is covered with hundreds of species of flowers, coloring the landscape in pink, purple, white, and yellow tones.
Photo: chiletravelmag.ru
Such "desert blooming" occurs irregularly: in the last 40 years, it has been observed approximately 15 times, as it depends on a combination of rain, temperature, and humidity.
During this time, wildlife also appears here — pollinating insects and birds, thus, for a short period, the desert transforms into a full-fledged ecosystem.
Photo: chiletravelmag.ru
To protect this rare phenomenon, a national park was created in Chile in a part of the Atacama Desert, where this seasonal blooming occurs.
Photo: chiletravelmag.ru