Storm clouds and virga above Laguna Santa Rosa Chile

by James Brunker

Title

Storm clouds and virga above Laguna Santa Rosa Chile

Artist

James Brunker

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Dramatic storm clouds rising above Laguna Santa Rosa, a saline lake at 3760m / 12,335ft in the Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park in the Puna de Atacama in Chile. The ragged formations at the base of the cloud are called virga; rain or hail that evaporates before it reaches the ground and quite common in desert and high altitude regions. The Puna de Atacama has both factors in abundance, it is a vast high altitude volcanic desert plateau in the central Andes shared by Chile and Argentina. The sparse tufts of yellow ichu grass near the shore are typical of what is known as the desert puna / puna desiertica ecoregion. The lake is a Ramsar Wetland (water is very scare in the region) and home to a population of Andean flamingos, a few of which can be seen near the shore in this image if you look closely.

Photograph © James Brunker. Reproduction, publication, transmission or use in any form without written permission prohibited.

Uploaded

January 26th, 2023

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