Science

Historic rainfall has transformed the driest place on Earth into a floral oasis

Rebecca Harrington

2015-10-30T21:03:00Z

When nature devastates, it often also brings life.

Historic rainfall in Chile this year killed 28 people and left thousands homeless, the news agency EFE reported.

In Antofagasta, Chile, it rained 0.9 inches in 12 hours — which is about what the area gets on average in an entire year, according to the Weather Channel.

But the historic rainfall has turned the Atacama Desert, which is the driest place on Earth, into a flowering oasis.

desierto florido 2009 — Another Atacama bloom in 2009. respect-/Flickr

"The Atacama region was punished, but also blessed by the phenomenon of a flourishing desert, something that happens only after the rains, this time brought about by El Niño and climate change," Atacama National Tourism Service Director Daniel Diaz told EFE.

The Atacama Desert, surrounded by the Andes Mountains in Chile, is the driest place on Earth.

Its wide expanses of sky have some of the best vistas for stargazing.

The desert's terrain is so much like Mars that the European Space Agency has even tested rovers there bound for the Red Planet.

Historic rainfall since March has been catastrophic for the surrounding areas in Chile, but has left the desert transformed.

Atacama has turned into a floral oasis.

The mallow flower has erupted across the normally arid land.

Cistanthe Grandiflora - Pata de Guanaco, Desierto Florido 2015. Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe, III Región, Chile. #desiertoflorido #desiertoflorido2015 #parquenacional #nationalpark #flowers #flores #huasco #llanosdechalle #atacama

A photo posted by Natalia Reyes (@weissesloch) on Oct 29, 2015 at 11:39am PDTOct 29, 2015 at 11:39am PDT

But 200 other plant species have also popped up because of the rains, according to LiveScience.

Cuando llueve sobre el rango normal en el desierto de Atacama en Chile , se produce este fenómeno del desierto florido entre septiembre y Noviembre . Viva Chile ! #desiertoflorido2015 #chilegram #Chile #latinoamerica #instachile #instapic #pictures #instaphoto

A photo posted by Nacho Gutierrez Castillo (@nachogutierrezcastillo) on Oct 26, 2015 at 1:02pm PDTOct 26, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT

Source: LiveScience

The rains have provided sustenance for animal and insect life.

Con alas de papel, el viento es su riel. #beautiful #bellas #mariposa #atacama #desiertoflorido #macro #fotos #flores #colores #butterfly #like #wild

A photo posted by L i f e . I n f i n i t e (@diego.sapiedra) on Oct 26, 2015 at 8:43pm PDTOct 26, 2015 at 8:43pm PDT

The site has attracted many curious tourists and natives, too.

Fotografiando maravillas de la naturaleza 🌸🌱😍 #desert #desertflower #desiertoflorido2015

A photo posted by Antonella Callegari (@antocallegari) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:18pm PDTSep 29, 2015 at 8:18pm PDT

EFE reports 20,000 tourists are expected to travel to Atacama to see the blooms.

#desiertoflorido #atacamadesert #chile2015 #flowers

A photo posted by Eleonora Urrutia (@maria_eleonora_urrutia) on Oct 25, 2015 at 6:19pm PDTOct 25, 2015 at 6:19pm PDT

Source: EFE

The area is part of Chile's Pan de Azúcar National Park.

—Tomás Cuadra Ordenes (@toroco_vallenar) October 1, 2015

The park is popular for hiking and mountain biking. But the main attraction now, of course, is the flowers.

—Sita_Vivi (@La_SitaVivi) October 11, 2015

Source: Chile's Official Tourism Site

In Spanish, the event is known as "desierto florido," or "flowery desert."

—Prakor Agro (@PrakorAgro) October 20, 2015

The blooms typically occur every five to 10 years, as rainfall allows.

—Nomadic Chica (@NomadicChica) October 11, 2015

Source: AccuWeather

The particularly strong El Niño this year is likely linked to the heavy rains that caused the flowers to bloom.

—Graciela Martín (@GracielaMartinP) October 7, 2015