The world's driest desert blooms into a rare, fleeting flower show
11 hours ago
- #Conservation
- #Rare Bloom
- #Atacama Desert
- The Atacama Desert, one of the world's driest places, experiences a rare bloom of fuchsia-colored wildflowers.
- Unusual winter downpours in the Southern Hemisphere led to the desert's transformation into a colorful floral carpet.
- The desert averages only 2 millimeters of rainfall annually but received up to 60 millimeters in some areas in 2025.
- Over 200 flower species lie dormant in the Atacama's soil, requiring at least 15 millimeters of water to germinate.
- Factors like water, temperature, daylight, and humidity determine whether seeds bloom.
- Tourists visit the desert to witness the short-lived flower show, which lasts until November or January for drought-resistant species.
- Chilean President Gabriel Boric established the Desert Bloom National Park to conserve the ephemeral desert flowers.