SANTIAGO, October 22 (Reuters) – Chile’s Atacama sand dunes are once again bathed in vibrant colors after flowers sprouted in recent weeks in the world’s driest desert despite persistent drought.

The awe-inspiring views of the so-called blooming desert draw local and foreign visitors to the southern hemisphere each spring, depending on the amount of rain received during the winter season.

“It’s a natural laboratory, because it allows you to see how changes in precipitation affect plant diversity,” said biologist Andrea Loaiza during a tour of the region.

The tough seeds and bulbs are able to survive Atacama’s extremely dry weather until they flower in the spring.

“If you pick oil, you will find thousands of seeds, thousands of bulbs,” said Gina Arancio, a botanist at the local University of La Serena. She explained that these seeds and bulbs – known collectively as germplasm – are able to survive for many years even if it doesn’t rain.

Yet while the area is officially protected and people are only allowed to enter designated areas, it is common to see deterioration caused by the transit of vehicles. The threat of plant trafficking is also present.

Biologist Cesar Pizarro said the region tended to receive less and less rainfall over time, with the exception of 2007 and 2011.

“Even though the rain is limited to a small area, it is still impressive to see it in the most arid desert on the planet,” he said.

The water deficit has led to studies in the region that seek to understand the impact of climate change on local plant species, as well as the ability of plants to survive and adapt to a drier environment.

Report by Reuters TV; Written by Marcelo Rochabrun; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman

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