Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert Latest News

Scientists are studying a small, resilient flower Cistanthe longiscapa in Chile’s arid Atacama that could hold genetic clues to help crops withstand worsening drought conditions driven by climate change.

About Atacama Desert

• Location: It is the driest desert in the world, located in northern Chile.
• It is nestled between the Andes Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
• It forms a continuous strip for nearly 1,000 km along the narrow coast of the northern third of Chile. 
• Bordered by: It is bordered by Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia
• It also hosts 12 volcanoes, mainly located in the western outliers of the Andes.
• Rainfall: Average rainfall in this region is about 1 mm per year. Some locations within the desert have never had any rainfall whatsoever.
• Temperature: Temperatures are comparatively mild throughout the year. The average temperature in the desert is about 63 degrees F (18 degrees C).
• Natural Resources: This region has the largest natural supply of Sodium Nitrate, which can be used for producing fertilizers and explosives, amongst other things. 
• Chinchorro Mummies: The oldest artificially mummified human remains have been found in the Atacama Desert.

What is Cistanthe longiscapa?

• It is a small, resilient flower known locally as “pata de guanaco,” blooms during rare rainfall events in the Atacama desert.
• It has the ability to switch between different types of photosynthesis, making it a model plant for extreme environments. 
• Under stress from drought, intense sunlight or salinity, the plant activates a water-saving method known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) metabolism.
• When conditions improve, it reverts to the more common C3 photosynthesis. 

Source: DD News

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