In northern Chile's Atacama Desert, renowned as one of the driest places on Earth, an unexpected burst of heavy rainfall has caused white and purple flowers to bloom unusually early. Typically, the Atacama receives an average annual rainfall of around 15 millimeters, and such conditions are rare.
The Atacama Desert, located in the Southern Hemisphere, is currently experiencing winter. Under normal circumstances, the seeds and bulbs of certain desert plants remain dormant underground, awaiting sufficient water to trigger their growth—a process that usually occurs every few years in the spring.
This rare event of early blooming not only transforms the arid landscape into a vibrant tapestry of colors but also highlights the delicate balance of nature in extreme environments.
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Desert flowers bloom early as Chile receives unusual rainfall
cgtn.com