Chile desert surprises with rare winter bloom

The sand dunes of Chile’s Atacama desert, renowned as the driest on Earth, have recently been adorned with white and purple blooms following early rains that prompted flowers to emerge during the Southern Hemisphere winter.

Known as the "flowering desert," the Atacama sees resilient seeds and bulbs enduring harsh conditions to blossom sporadically every few years in springtime. However, recent heavy rains, attributed to the weather phenomenon El Niño, have triggered an early bloom.

Cesar Pizarro, who oversees biodiversity conservation at the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), noted that while there haven't been enough winter blooms to officially classify it as a "flowering desert" event, further rains expected in the coming weeks may lead to widespread blooming. "For now, we must wait," he added.

The last early bloom in the Atacama occurred in 2015.

"It's a privilege to visit this place and witness its beauty," remarked visitor Fernanda Ponce.