The Atacama desert in Chile has acquired the undisputed title of being the "driest place on Earth". But early this year, a heavy downpour that lasted for 12 hours has turned the seemingly lifeless desert into a blooming flower garden.

Live Science reported that the desert sands have been covered by flowers of different varieties and hues. The seeds were believed to be hiding the beneath ground, waiting for a chance to germinate.

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Local are amazed to see hills that were barren are now teeming with colorful and lively flowers.

Normally, the Atacama desert receives as little as 15 mm of rain annually. The Washington Post reported that one time during the early part of the 20^th century, more than 14 years passed before rains started falling on Atacama.

However, this particular part of Chile was battered by heavy rains that people have not experienced for the past 20 years. The Chilean town of Antofagasta, which is near the Atcama desert, received almost 23 mm of rainfall. Tragically, the heavy rains killed a number of people, but its also gave life to the Atcama desert.

Most of rainwater eventually went to the desert where it nurtured the seeds of countless flowers, hiding just beneath the sand surface. What was once a lifeless desert has suddenly become an area teeming with various flowers. It has also brought out numerous wildlife living in the area.

Chile's National Tourism agency spokesperson Rodrigo Ruiz said that this isn't the first time that Atcama has become a hotbed of flowers. Five years ago, the desert was also blanketed by flowers and it took awhile before it returned to its normal desert state.

This year's flower bloom will definitely be the biggest and longest flower season yet, according to Ruiz.

Flowers blooming in the Atcama desert is not an unusual phenomenon. The cycle, which occurres every few years, is always accompanied by El Nino.

Word of the massive blooming flowers in Atcama desert has attracted a lot of attention. Thousands of tourists are flocking to see for themselves this spectacular show of nature before the flowers disappear next month, according to Weather.

TagsAtcama desert, deseet in bloom, Chile desert blooming, flowers in desert, Chile desert flowers, atcama desert flowers