Monte Desert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monte Desert |
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Landforms result of erosion in the Monte Desert at Ischigualasto, Argentina.
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The Monte Desert is a South American desert. It is found entirely within Argentina. This desert covers parts of several provinces, including Mendoza, La Rioja, and San Juan. It also reaches into La Pampa and Río Negro provinces.
The Monte Desert is located southeast of the Atacama Desert and north of the larger Patagonian Desert. It lies east of the Andes mountains and west of the Sierras de Córdoba.
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Exploring the Monte Desert's Landscape
It can be hard to tell exactly where the Monte Desert ends and the Atacama or Patagonian deserts begin. They often blend into each other.
The land in the Monte Desert looks a lot like the Patagonian Desert. You can see rocks formed from volcanoes and flat plains near the mountains. There are also large mountain areas and many salt lakes that are usually dry.
The main rivers in this area are the Río Colorado and its branch, the Río Desaguadero. These rivers meet in the southern part of the desert. They are very important because they provide water for farming, especially for growing grapes for wine.
Understanding the Monte Desert's Climate
The Monte Desert gets very little rain. This is because it is on the eastern side of the Andes mountains. This side is called the leeward side. The Andes block the rain clouds, creating a "rain shadow" effect. This is the main reason why the Monte Desert and other nearby deserts are so dry.
Unlike the Atacama and Patagonian deserts, the Monte Desert is not as strongly affected by cold ocean currents. This means the Monte Desert can support more different kinds of plants and animals.
Plants and Animals of the Monte Desert
The Monte Desert has many more types of plants than the nearby Patagonian Desert. The Patagonian Desert mostly has shrubs and grasses. The Atacama Desert, on the other hand, has very little life at all.
In the Monte Desert, you will find many shrubs and grasses. You can even see tall cacti in the areas that have more water.
The animals in the Monte Desert are similar to those in the Patagonian Desert. However, there are more kinds of animals and larger numbers of them here. This is because the Monte Desert has better conditions for life. You can find small mammals like mice. Larger animals, such as the guanaco and the burrowing owl, also live here.
The World Wildlife Fund has named an 'ecoregion' after this desert: NT0802.
See also
In Spanish: Desierto del Monte para niños
- High Monte
- Argentine Monte
- Atacama Desert
- Patagonian Desert
- List of deserts
