The steppe mountains It is an ecoregion with a compendium of extreme conditions in the mountainous areas of the central Andes, mainly in Peru, under which the existence of complete ecosystems with perfectly adapted fauna and flora has been possible..
The natural formations of the area make up one of the greatest geographic riches on the planet, thus being evidence of the wisdom of mother nature by showing man the process of adaptation and evolution.
It is located in the south of America and extends from the western side of the Andes mountain range to the border area with Chile. This mountainous area was formed mainly by volcanic activity and is constantly subjected to seismic activity..
The mountainous area is surrounded by equatorial dry forest to the north, the puna and the High Andes on the east side and the Pacific desert of Peru on the west side. In short, it can be said that everything between the tree line of the mountain range and the snow line is part of the steppe mountains..
Peru is home to a large number of different ecosystems and climates existing in the same territory, which makes it the country with the greatest ecological diversity in the world. There is no other country with more ecosystems.
Consequently, it also has a great diversity of fauna and flora native to the region or from other places. The steppe mountains is just one of many regions with particular ecosystems within the Peruvian territory.
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With the full name of steppe mountains, a set of specific natural conditions is identified that do not exist anywhere else in the world. The term Serranía, coming from the sierra, locates it only in the Andean mountain range
The word steppe by definition indicates flat territories with herbaceous vegetation, that is, with the appearance of herbs and the absence of forest. The steppes are normally regions far from the sea above 1000 meters above sea level, and show notable climatic variations between the summer and winter seasons..
This one in particular is found approximately at altitudes between 1000 and 4000 meters above sea level..
It is commonly associated with the cold desert due to the lack of water, a drought condition most of the time, constant sun and extreme temperatures as a result of the little annual rainfall..
Rain is scarce in the whole area in general, below 400 mm and can extend up to about eight months around winter. Rainfall can be increased during the summer between the months of December and March.
The climate moves in extremes during the different seasons and depending on the altitude, as well as between day and night. It is generally dry-sunny during the day and cold at night..
The terrain shows a mountain formation with narrow valleys, steep cliffs, rocky landscapes and few plains. The land is fertile and rich in minerals despite extreme conditions.
Rivers play an important role, being responsible for the creation of the geographic view; having drawn the silhouette over the years with the passage of water. You can also see an abrupt but harmonious relief and the unique landscape are some of the general characteristics of the steppe mountains..
The steppe mountain range is divided into four zones due to the altitude, which are the semi-desert zone, the low zone, the middle zone and the high zone; each with a characteristic climate.
The semi-desert steppe mountains, with a height between 1000 and 1600 meters above sea level, presents a temperate climate sometimes mixed with the subtropical, that is, high temperatures but with little rain.
The low steppe mountains are between 1600 and 2600 meters above sea level, characterized by being a sub-humid semi-desert area with little annual rainfall..
The middle steppe mountainous region, between 2,600 and 3,200 meters above sea level, has a cold and dry climate in its semi-desert lands, with low temperatures and constant sunshine..
Finally, the high steppe mountains with altitudes between 3,200 and 4,000 meters above sea level. It is characterized by being an area with a very cold, boreal climate and close to the tundra climate but dry, primarily caused by low temperatures, constant sun and low rainfall per year..
Due to the extreme temperatures and particular conditions, the vegetation has adapted to survive in these difficult and unfriendly environments. They have evolved to withstand hot temperatures during the day and cold temperatures at night.
In general, its vegetation is herbaceous, sparse and low, exhibiting landscapes of extensive prairies adorned with mountainous terrain. You can also find concentrations of diverse plants with small leaves and stems..
Some plants have been conditioned to accumulate water in their leaves, body and / or roots, as is the case with cactus-like species..
The characteristic flora of the steppe mountains varies between species of tropical, semi-desert and páramo climates. Xerophilous vegetation can be found throughout the steppe mountains..
Some characteristic forms of plant life are the llareta or yareta, which is an evergreen species, native to South America, and which grows at more than 3,000 meters above sea level. Also the so-called tiaca or quiaca which is a tree native to southern America.
The white grass, also known as the sand flower for its medicinal uses, is a flower native to South America, specifically the Andes area. The cactus flora in general, with almost always thorny texture, manages to live perfectly in these conditions..
The middle steppe mountains, between 2,600 and 3,200 meters above sea level, present sparse forest vegetation, that is, trees and shrubs in not abundant concentrations and quite separated from each other. The bushes are usually not more than a meter high.
You can find some types of trees such as the huarango, which is a millenary tree of the legume family with properties to survive in the desert, the queñoa belonging to the Rosaceae family originating in the Andean area and the Tola shrubs, originating from South America and known for its medicinal benefits.
Wild corn, or wild or primitive corn cob, can also be found in the steppe mountains. In the middle and upper areas of the steppe mountains you can find bromeliad-type plants, which are native to the American continent and famous for their large flowers and deep calyx, such as achupallas.
Likewise, plants of the grass type, cacti such as the prickly pear and the Peruvian torch, chochos and other diverse shrubs adapted to cold and the limited presence of water live in this ecosystem.
Like plants, animals subsequently developed a way to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Among them the Andean condor, which is the largest and heaviest bird in the world. They can weigh up to 15 kilos. The Andean condor, as its name implies, can be found in the highest regions of the Andes mountains. Choose to live in areas with strong air currents that help you fly with little effort due to your weight.
Also in the steppe mountains are the Andean parakeet, the blue hummingbird, the reddish hummingbird, the canastero of the cacti and the puna tinamou or Andean kiula, which is a long land bird with rounded wings and a short tail..
The region is home to the Andean flamingo, also known as the parina grande or chururu, which lives in large numbers or flocks around large bodies of water. We can also find repaces birds such as the caracara in the high areas of the Andes, the dwarf owl and the small red hawk or quillincho..
We also find in this region the anas puna that is a species of duck native to South America, the ibis of the puna common in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru, the canastero maquis that is a small brown bird that lives in the Andes at east of Bolivia and may be similar to the canary due to its size and shape, and the Andean rhea.
You may be interested The 20 most common native animals of Peru.
The Andean rhea is not just any bird, as it is the smallest of its species. It is a neo-tropical bird with brown and white feathers that inhabits the middle and upper part of the mountains. It is adapted to harsh weather conditions.
The steppe mountains are also home to felines such as the puma and the wild cat, with wide tails and spotted or mottled fur. They also inhabit the Andean fox, the deer, the frontino bear, sheep and bats.
The alpaca and the vicuña are mammals cousins of camels and similar to the llama, which are very common and representative animals of the steppe mountains. It is common to see them in large herds together with the llamas.
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