Chile’s Far North & Norte Chico: Climate, Flora, and Fauna
Chile’s Far North: Regions and Towns
This section covers the following regions: Region I (Tarapacá), Region II (Antofagasta), and Region XV (Arica and Parinacota). Geographically, it extends from the northern limit line (Concord), approximately at the 18.5th parallel, to the Copiapó River, approximately at the 26.5th parallel (ecotones).
Characteristics of the Far North
- Characterized by absolute desert, devoid of vegetation except for some isolated areas.
- Plains over a thousand feet high.
- Warm, even weather, with an average temperature of 18°C and no precipitation.
Coast Range
The Coast Range forms cliffs of eroded hills, which receive some moisture from the camanchaca (coastal fog).
Near Iquique, there is an area called Pampa del Tamarugal where the tamarugo tree species grows due to shallow water tables.
There are some small coastal fog oases with sufficient vegetation, such as Paposo.
Altiplano
The Altiplano is a high plain in the Andes, where the climate varies according to altitude.
- Large temperature contrasts between day and night, ranging from -10°C to +30°C.
- Up to 2,500 meters, there is almost no vegetation.
- Above 2,500 meters, there is an influence of tropical rainfall, variable from year to year (December to February), known as the “Bolivian winter.”
Altiplano: Flora and Fauna
Due to the increased rainfall above 2,500 meters, there is more vegetation and also animals such as birds, reptiles, vizcachas, guanacos, and others.
Above 3,500 meters, the landscape is formed by volcanoes, small lakes, and salt flats.
- Harsh climate with many months of cold and drought.
- Significant daily temperature range.
- Harsh winds and low humidity.
- Andean steppe vegetation and fauna such as vicuñas, alpacas, llamas, and birds like piuquenes, taguas, parinas, and suris.
Adaptation of Plants to Environmental Conditions
Due to the lack of water, plants have adapted to maximize this resource.
- During the hottest periods, trees and shrubs lose their leaves.
- Some plants replace their leaves with spines that can attract moisture from the atmosphere (fog) and perform photosynthesis through their stems (cacti), which have an accordion-like structure to retain water when it falls.
- Due to the wind in the highlands, there are almost no trees, only shrubs and low plants resistant to low temperatures.
Norte Chico: Atacama and Coquimbo Regions
The Norte Chico region encompasses the III Region of Atacama and the IV Region of Coquimbo, extending from south of Chañaral to Los Vilos (from a botanical perspective), between the 26.5th and 32.5th parallels.
Bioclimatic Zone
The bioclimatic zone corresponds to a Mediterranean trend, with very little rainfall in winter and a summer drought period (10 mm in Copiapó, 35 mm in Vallenar, and 70 mm in La Serena).
Topography
The topography consists of hills that connect the Coastal Range and the Andes, intersected by river valleys, which are the only places with a permanent water supply.
Aridity
The predominant feature is aridity, which decreases southward along the coast and into the Andes.
Vegetation
The vegetation corresponds to the steppe. The predominant species are low shrubs. In places with a little more water, trees can also grow.
“Desierto Florido” Phenomenon
Due to cyclical climate change (El Niño phenomenon), a phenomenon called “Desierto Florido” (Flowering Desert) occurs every so often. With increased rainfall, plant and animal life flourishes.
Fray Jorge Forest
For many years, the floristic richness of this area has been exploited intensively for fuel, industrial, or medicinal purposes, along with excessive grazing by goats.
The cutting of flowers for sale prevents their reproduction.
Genetic material is sent outside of Chile to be refined and then returned to Chile with patents that must be paid for.
Plant Adaptations to Climate
- Many annual plants have seeds that can remain viable for several years without germinating.
- Shrubs are adapted to living with very little water.
Fauna
Some characteristic fauna of the Norte Chico are the zorro chilla (South American gray fox) and the chungungo (marine otter).