The Atacama blooms early, transforming the desert into a stunning floral display

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the driest places on Earth. Locals also call it the "blooming desert" because every few years, it is covered with a carpet of purple, pink, white, and yellow flowers. Seeds that lie dormant in the desert sand awaken to life when there is rain and the appropriate temperature.

Usually, this happens in the spring. According to CNN, the current blooming is happening exceptionally early, in the middle of winter in the southern hemisphere. This is due to rainfall driven by El Niño. Blooming usually coincides with this phenomenon, during which temperatures in the region are higher, leading to more evaporation and, consequently, a higher amount of rainfall.

According to an analysis by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the Atacama has bloomed 15 times in the past 40 years. Although flowers have appeared in some places, they can't be officially recognized as "Desierto Florido," as the locals call the bloom.

The blooms are not yet extensive enough to officially be considered part of the "flowering desert," said Cesar Pizarro, who leads biodiversity conservation at the National Forestry Corporation, in an interview with Reuters.

Pizarro noted that further rainfall is forecasted in the area, which suggests that flowers could soon be seen over a much larger area of the Atacama.

The spectacular blooming of the Atacama occurred in 2015. At that time, over 200 different species of flowers appeared in the desert. It was not only an extraordinary feast for the eyes of visitors to the area but also for the animals living there. Perhaps this year will be the same!

In 2022, the Chilean government announced the creation of a new national park in the Atacama Desert. This move aimed to protect the blooming flowers and the insects, birds, and reptiles living there.