One of the planet’s driest deserts has unexpectedly transformed into a field of flowers. After unusually heavy rains in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert has been carpeted in purple and white blossoms, with the peak bloom expected in October. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how a veritable blooming garden emerged amid a virtually lifeless landscape.
Heavy rains linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon have awakened millions of seeds and bulbs that had lain dormant underground for years. The Atacama’s soil harbors about 200 plant species that can survive long dry spells and sprout rapidly once moisture arrives.
Purple flowers and white buds now cover vast areas of the desert, drawing tourists eager to witness this unusual landscape. Experts predict the bloom will peak in October, potentially covering around 15,000 hectares.
The phenomenon is known as the «flowering desert.» It occurs after unusual rainfall, when dormant seeds and bulbs receive enough moisture to germinate. Conditions were particularly favorable this year. Regional authorities had forecast a massive bloom as early as August, following heavy precipitation in July.
Meanwhile, unusually cold weather in the Sahara Desert blanketed the famous orange dunes with a thin layer of snow, turning them white for several hours.
