Ecosystems · South America
Andes And Páramo
Cloud forest to high grassland along the spine of a continent.
The Andes run the length of South America, creating habitats from steamy foothills to cloud forest to cold high grassland. The páramo, an open, misty landscape above the treeline in the northern Andes, is found nowhere else on Earth.
It acts like a giant sponge, storing water that supplies cities and farms below.
The Landscape
Páramo lies between the upper forest edge and permanent snow, characterised by tussock grasses, cushion plants and giant rosettes called frailejones. Days are sunny and nights are cold, sometimes freezing.
Who Lives Here
Andean Condors ride the thermals, Spectacled Bears and Mountain Tapirs roam the cloud forest, and hummingbirds feed on high-altitude flowers. Many plants and amphibians are found only on a single mountain.
Through The Year
Most places have a drier and a wetter season rather than hot and cold. Mist and rain are possible at any time, and the clearest views are often in the dry months.
Pressures And Care
Burning and grazing, agriculture creeping upward, mining and a warming climate threaten páramo and cloud forest. Protecting these high ecosystems protects drinking water.
Visiting Well
Take time to adjust to the altitude, carry waterproofs and warm clothing, and walk on established trails to protect the delicate soils.
Look for
- Andean Condor
- Spectacled Bear
- Frailejón
- Mountain Tapir
- Sword-billed Hummingbird
Often a good time to visit: December, January, July, August. Conditions vary from year to year and place to place.
Related habitats
More in South America
Amazon Basin · Pantanal And Cerrado
Further reading
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