The Atacama Desert in Chile is located between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean.
The extreme drought makes it one of the cleanest places on Earth to observe the night sky and is known for being home to the largest radio telescope in the world.
However, this year the usually barren landscape was covered in a carpet of colorful wildflowers, brought to life by significant rainfall during the southern hemisphere's winter months.
This happens every few years, when above-average rainfall soaks the desert soil and revives dormant seeds.
The Atacama Desert typically receives less than 15 millimeters of rain each year.
However, enough rain fell during August alone to deposit 12 millimeters of water in the desert - most of it in just one day.
There was even snow cover in June, which is very rare in these areas.
The magnificent blooms consist of more than 200 different species of wildflowers, some of which grow nowhere else in the world.
It usually occurs between the end of August and November.
Although considered rare, this phenomenon also occurred in 2024, after heavy rains in the area.
The desert's flowering will be at its peak for several more weeks, according to data from CONAF, Chile's national forestry corporation.
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Bonus video:
