Natural Events Almanac

Peru

Lomas De La Chay National Sanctuary
ŠWilliam Ulfelder

Event: Coastal Desert Blooming

Where: Lomas De La Chay National Sanctuary

When: July in the North, September near Lima, October in the South

Each year, a long and thin dotted strip of Lomas plant communities along the coastal deserts of Peru and northern Chile come to life as the cold Humboldt Current creates dense winter fogs over the land, giving just enough moisture for an amazing collection of plants to bloom. This is one of the driest parts of the planet, but from July (in the north) to October (in the south) and around September near Lima, enough moisture collects from light drizzle and fog to turn the tops of some Andean foothills--those close enough to the ocean--green with life for a short two months.

Open to the public. Facilities available: interpretive center.

For additional information on a particular location, click on the name of the preserve associated with the event or visit the Peru site.