The Atacama Desert in northern Chile, one of the driest places on Earth, is currently covered in vibrant white and purple flowers. This phenomenon, known as the Disierto Florida or “flowering desert,” occurs when specific rainfall and temperature conditions awaken dormant desert seeds. Typically, this event happens in the spring, but this year’s bloom has arrived early in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter due to El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon that impacts global weather patterns.

El Niño brings warmer temperatures to the region, leading to increased evaporation and more rainfall, which in turn stimulates the desert bloom. Over the past 40 years, the Atacama has experienced around 15 such blooming events, as noted by a 2022 analysis from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

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Drone images from near Copiapo in the Atacama region show the desert’s transformation during this “Desierto Florido” event. Despite the early bloom this year due to heavier-than-usual rainfall, the flowers have yet to cover a large enough area to be officially classified as part of the “flowering desert,” according to Cesar Pizarro, head of biodiversity conservation for the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF). However, with more rain anticipated, there is potential for the flowers to spread further.

In 2022, the Chilean government announced the creation of a new national park in the Atacama Desert to protect these rare blooms and the diverse wildlife they support, including insects, reptiles, and birds.