Andes Region | Birding and wildlife

Description

HIGH ANDES
In the heights of the Andes mountain range lies a desert region, cold and windy, known as the High Andes or altoandina region. Related to the Puna and the Patagonian steppe, its vegetation is sparse but varied, with tiny grasses and stunted bushes in the shape of cushions and plaques. In areas with water there are "meadows" or "swamps", covered by reeds and grasses.

PUNA
One of South America's outstanding features is its high altitude desert: the Puna grasslands. This area is especially interesting from a biological perspective, given its bushy steppe that is home to plants adapted to the harsh weather and spectacular fauna, particularly the thousands of water birds that flock to the lagoons and the herds of vicuña wandering these infinite wild landscapes.

ESPINAL
The espinal or thornbush country consists of an extensive strip of forests that are mainly populated by woody plant species with thorns or prickles, some of which include the carob tree, the calden tree, the ñandubay and acacia trees.