by eduars | Sep 29, 2013 | Coastal Desert, Featured
Peru’s coast is a long strip of desert cut in more than 50 places by seasonal rivers that flow from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean. But the coast has not always been arid. After South America broke away from Africa and the rest of Gondwana, the west coast was...
by eduars | Sep 29, 2013 | Coastal Desert
The cold Pacific or Humboldt Current is the reason why Peru’s coast is so dry. Moisture evaporating from the ocean is absorbed by the warmer air over land, keeping clouds from forming. In winter, however, when the air temperature drops slightly, heavy fog,...
by eduars | Sep 29, 2013 | Coastal Desert, Featured
Along the Peruvian coast is a string of rocky islands and peninsulas that are home to guanay cormorants, boobies, and pelicans. The birds leave the islands every morning to feed on the fish, especially anchovies, that are plentiful in theHumboldt Current. They return...
by eduars | Sep 29, 2013 | Coastal Desert
The coastal ecosystems and the civilizations that flourished on the Peruvian coast have been shaped by Pacific currents. The Peruvian or Humboldt Currentflowing northward along the coast of South America, carrying cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean...
