Patagonian Desert

A cold, arid region of southern Argentina, east of the Andes, extending across much of Patagonia. It is shaped by rain shadow, strong winds, and sparse vegetation.

Rain shadow: A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range, where descending air brings little precipitation. The Andes block much of the moist air moving toward Patagonia from the Pacific.
Patagonia: A sparsely populated geographic region at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The desert occupies much of Patagonia’s eastern, Argentine side.
Sheep farming in Patagonia: Extensive livestock raising centered on sheep across the grasslands and shrublands of Patagonia. Sheep grazing became a major use of the desert’s sparse native vegetation.
Desertification: The degradation of drylands that reduces biological productivity and can make land more desert-like. Overgrazing and erosion can worsen land degradation in parts of Patagonia.
Andes: The longest continental mountain range, extending along the western edge of South America. The range intercepts Pacific moisture before it can reach the Patagonian interior.
Argentina: A country in southern South America extending from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the Patagonian Desert lies within Argentina.
Guanaco: A wild South American camelid adapted to open, dry habitats in the Andes and Patagonia. Guanacos are among the region’s best-adapted large native herbivores.
Overgrazing: Grazing pressure that exceeds an ecosystem’s capacity to regrow forage and maintain soil cover. Heavy sheep grazing has contributed to vegetation loss and soil erosion in some areas.
Westerlies: Prevailing midlatitude winds that generally blow from west to east. They carry Pacific air toward the Andes, where much of its moisture falls.
Arid climate: A climate in which precipitation is too low to meet the water needs of most vegetation. Low rainfall defines the desert despite its cold temperatures.

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Santa Cruz ProvinceRelated: The desert steppe covers much of Santa Cruz beyond its wetter Andes.