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Heavy rains awaken a hidden world beneath Chile’s Atacama Desert : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Heavy rains brought by the El Niño super cycle caused flash floods in Chile's Atacama Desert, leading to the most extensive and colorful floral bloom in 30 years, with over 200 species flowering across the desert floor.
- The rainwater penetrated deeply, awakening millions of dormant seeds, bulbs, and tubers, some of which had been buried for decades, creating vibrant patches of pink, yellow, lilac, and purple flowers in areas never before recorded.
- The bloom has attracted a surge of tourists, with 15,000 visitors to Llanos de Challe National Park alone in recent weeks and an expected 300,000 overnight trips during the two-month flowering period.
- Scientists and biologists are collecting plant specimens to study their unique adaptations to arid conditions, while local authorities seek UNESCO World Heritage recognition to promote tourism and diversify the region's economy beyond mining.
- The desert bloom phenomenon, which occurs every few years, is becoming more frequent due to climate change, and this year's bloom is expected to last until mid-November.
