In northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is known as the driest desert in the world. Recently, the region experienced rare rainfall, moistening the ground and prompting a spectacular bloom of flowers, creating a breathtaking sight.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Atacama Desert typically receives an annual average rainfall of about 2 millimeters. During the southern hemisphere’s winter season, several unusual rain showers last week saturated the desert foothills and highlands, leading to the emergence of a vibrant carpet of flowers in the region.
Experts are calling 2025 the year with the highest rainfall in recent years for the Atacama Desert. Some high-altitude border areas received as much as 60 millimeters of rainfall in July and August.
Víctor Ardiles, the Chief Botanist at the National Museum of Natural History in Chile, mentioned that over 200 species of flower seeds lie dormant in the red soil of the Atacama Desert, waiting for the winter rains to trigger their growth.
Ardiles explained that when the humidity in the air reaches a certain threshold, these seeds begin to germinate, grow, and blossom. However, not all seeds will germinate, with some waiting for future opportunities. Some will survive to the next generation, while others may fall behind on the path of life.
The predominant colors in this sea of flowers are pink and purple, but there are also yellow, red, blue, and white flowers blooming.
With the arrival of summer, most of the flowers will disappear by November. However, more drought-resistant varieties can survive until January.
Tourists have been flocking to the Atacama Desert in recent days to admire this brief floral display, with some even traveling from the Chilean capital, Santiago.
Ardiles remarked, “There is no other place on Earth where this phenomenon has occurred quite like in Chile.”
According to reports from Reuters, scientists are studying a small flowering plant native to the Atacama Desert, known locally as “pata de guanaco,” which may contain genetic clues to help crops withstand the increasingly severe drought conditions caused by climate change.
A research team at Andres Bello University in Chile is conducting genetic sequencing analyses on this plant to understand what traits enable its survival in the harsh environment with limited water resources and extreme temperature variations. The team aims to transfer the drought-resistant characteristics of this plant to other crops.
Ariel Orellana, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Center at the university, stated, “Under the influence of climate change, drought is becoming a serious issue faced by agriculture, globally and in our country. We need plants that can tolerate drought.”
Orellana highlighted the uniqueness of the “pata de guanaco” in its ability to switch between different types of photosynthesis. When faced with drought, intense sunlight, or high salinity, this plant activates a water-efficient mode called Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis. When conditions improve, it reverts to a more common C3 photosynthesis mode.
He added, “This adaptability makes it an excellent model for studying how genes control these changes.”