Sea of flowers in the Atacama Desert due to El Niño

A sea of ​​flowers in one of the driest places on earth: This curiosity can currently be admired in the Atacama Desert. The background is the climate phenomenon “El Niño”.\n\nNumerous flowers sprout in one of the driest places in the world. Photo: Ignacio Villarroel/Agencia Uno/dpa\n\nHuasco. A special phenomenon can currently be observed in the Atacama Desert on the Pacific coast of South America: numerous flowers are sprouting in one of the driest places in the world. The cause of this strange situation in the southern spring can be seen in the climate phenomenon “El Niño”, as Aida Baldini Urrutia, the head of the Chilean forestry authority Conaf, explained in an interview with the broadcaster CNN Chile.\n\nWhat causes harm elsewhere favors the growth of plants in the Atacama Desert, the head of the authority informed. The rainfall caused by “El Niño” resulted in around 200 different plants thriving in an area of ​​17,000 square kilometers - in the driest non-polar desert on earth.\n\nThe peak of flowering can now be observed in October, says Baldini Urrutia. She assumes that the plants in the desert will still be able to be admired until the end of November.\n\nBy then, the forestry authority expects a total of around a million visitors from home and abroad who will come to the Chilean national parks Desierto Florido, Llanos de Cháyes and Pan de Azúcar because of the sea of flowers.\n\nThe climate phenomenon “El Niño”\n\n“El Niño” is a phenomenon that disrupts the weather around the world. The cause is weaker trade winds over the tropical Pacific, as the World Weather Organization (WMO) explains.\n\nWhen warm water and clouds hit the otherwise dry coast of South America, this leads to higher amounts of precipitation, which can lead to flooding.\n\n“El Niños” usually last nine to twelve months, reach their peak between November and February and happen every two to seven years.\n\n“El Niño” translates as the Christ child. The name comes from fishermen in Peru who noticed the sea's temperature rise often around Christmas time. The World Weather Organization has forecast a very strong “El Niño” for this year.\n\nPublished according to the editorial standards of the Handelsblatt. You can find more information in our guidelines.