Flowering Desert: A Climatic Phenomenon in Chilean Atacama Desert

The “flowering desert” also called “desierto florido” is a climatic phenomenon that occurs at the Atacama Desert, in Chile. The magnificent phenomenon comprises of the blossoming of a wide range of flowers in the months of September and November every year. The flowering starts when rainfall is unusually high, a normally this region receives less than 12 mm of rain a year. The flowers blossoming take place when the infrequent level of rainfall reach the seeds and bulbs that have been in a latent or dormant state and roots them to germinate in early spring. Therefore, it is accompanied by the propagation of insects, birds and minor species of lizard. At its height, the phenomenon can be seen from just south of the city of Vallenar to just north of the city of Copiapó throughout the coastal valleys and Chilean Coast Range. The phenomenon is strictly dependent on above-average rainfall, although highly excessive rainfall has been seen to limit blooming. The area proved to be one of the chief sources of Chile’s wealth until World War I. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest and one of the oldest deserts places on Earth.

Climatically, the event is related to the El Niño phenomenon, a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that occasionally develops off the western coast of South America, which can lead to an increase in evaporation and therefore precipitation. Due to gorgeous beauty of flowering desert, the site has been emerge in popular tourist attraction with visitors visiting the climatic phenomenon from various points around the southern Atacama, including Huasco Vallenar, La Serena, Copiapo and Cladera. The flowering desert comprises over two hundred species of flower, most of them endemic to the Atacama region. The different species germinate at different times through the flowering desert period.

Some of the most common species include Garra de león, Pata de guanaco, Añañuca, Schizopetalon tenuifolium. This area is also home to cacti, succulents and other examples of xerophilous plants, as well as animal species including the Tuco-tuco and the Four-Eyed Frog. In recent times, various concerns have been raised by environmental organizations regarding the possibly damaging effects of large numbers of tourists visiting the flowering desert, the illegal trade of native flower species, and the development of motorsport. Chilean Government has established a series of prohibitions and control in response of environmental organizations has suggested that these activities limit the potential for regeneration of the existing species. In addition to informative campaigns to the public, and especially to tourists, in order to limit the damage.

Pictures Credit; Atacamaphoto

El Tatio, Third Largest Geyser Field in World

Head into the Andes Mountains of northern Chile and you'll find “El Tatio” a geyser field at 4,320 meters above mean sea level. El Tatio is among the highest-elevation geyser fields in the world, and has more than 80 active geysers, making it the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest in the world. El Tatio, name comes from comes from the Quechua word for oven. The geysers erupt to an average height of about 75 centimeters, with the highest eruption observed being around 6 metres. 

This place is a major tourist attraction, and tourists usually arrive at sunrise when each geyser is surmounted by a column of steam that condenses in the cold air. The steam plumes disappear as the air warms up, and possible to bathe in the hot geyser water in a small pool. Though the nearby population center to the El Tatio Geysers is Calama, a beautiful ancient town with a small but developing tourist sector, the vast majority of visitors come on day trips from San Pedro de Atacama.

Moreover, there’s wreckage at the site from an old project for harnessing geothermal power. The exploration of El Tatio is controversial, because this site is a popular tourist attraction, and receives more than 100,000 visitors per year, and is the principal attraction of nearby San Pedro de Atacama; that the geysers are in an indigenous zone and people put value on and show to the world. Well, if you want to see the see this place, then the best time to see the geysers is 06:00, so make sure you wipe the sleep from your eyes if you want experience the breathtaking display. So be careful, and watch your step, because in some places, tourists have fallen through the thin crust into underlying pools of boiling water and suffered severe burns. Dress in layers: it's toe-numbingly cold at sunbreak but you will bake in the van on the way back down. 

The area is also home to a number of hot springs, you’ll find pools with waters at comfortable temperatures or if you’re willing to brave undressing in the cold high-altitude air. The ground takes a while to reach 16ºC after the chill of the night has passed, but the experience is worth the wait. Source: Charismaticplanet.com

Remarkable Autumn Landscape of UK

It is simply incredible and easily say the greatest nature show on earth,  with its majestic beauty wrap up warm and embrace Britain's remarkable autumn landscapes this half-term some of which are right under our noses. So, forget Norwegian fjords and Icelandic glaciers, some of the most breathtaking landscapes are right under our noses in the United Kingdom. Therefore, what’d you think for perfect timing to witness them when they’re in full glory brought to life by the golden hues? Here are the best places to wrap up warm and visit during the approaching half-term. The different sights when autumn morning as dappled sunlight picks out the golds and reds are one of life’s great masterpieces.

 Source: Dailymail &
Charismatic Planet

Hoia Baciu; The Most Haunted Forest in the World.

The Hoia Forest is a forest situated to the west of the city of Cluj-Napoca, near the open-air section of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. Hoia Baciu is believed by several to be the most haunted forest in the world.  Hoia Baciu is the setting for a number of unexplained, spooky tales, even doesn’t help that the trees are bent and twisted in apparently strange ways, giving the woods a horror movie feel. The Hoia Forest is well-known worldwide for its alleged repeated and varied paranormal phenomena. The Hoia Baciu forest says to be named after a Sheperd that disappeared with 200 sheep into the forest. Due to its mysterious stories, it is called “the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania”

Numerous visitors to the Hoia Baciu have returned from their trip frightened, claiming that burns and rashes have appeared on their bodies for no apparent reason. Moreover, many even claim to have skipped a few hours during their exploration between the creepy trees. Though, they’ve no explanation for why they cannot remember what happened during the ”missing” hours. Various people are really convinced that ghostly apparitions hang around in the forest, and the locals completely refuse to set foot in it. Particularly since rumors of floating heads and voices emanating from the darkness started making the rounds. 

 

It all have started back in 1968 when “Alexandru Sift” took a picture inside the forest of what various continue to believe was a UFO. Another tenacious story tells of a shepherd venturing into the woods with 200 sheep, never to be seen or heard from again. Therefore, ongoing ghost hunts have turned up no sign as to what might be behind all the strange events taking place here, but paranormal specialists are not giving up the ghost just yet when it comes to studying Hoia Baciu and revealing its creepy secrets to the world. One legend says a five year old girl disappeared into the forest and didn't come out for five years and was wearing the same clothes she disappeared in 5 years ago. The forest has becomes famous among the paranormal and esoteric events experts & explorers from Germany, France, USA and Hungary visiting the Hoia Baciu Forest even during the communism and managing to catch some mysterious phenomena.