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The Quebrada Botija The Quebrada Botija This valley is located in the north of Chile, between Taltal and Antofagasta, in the coastal part of the Atacama Desert. This valley provides access to the Botija peak, culminating at 1100 meters. Mythic for the Copiapoa enthusiasts, it shelters at least 5 species of this genus, including 2 endemic ones. The Quebrada Botija The access to the Quebrada is from the Road 1, which is in fact a track. We meet the first Copiapoa on the beach. The Quebrada Botija A few Copiapoa atacamensis, but relatively few. The Quebrada Botija Mainly Copiapoa ahremephiana. This species can only be found on the beach and at the entrance of the valley. The Quebrada Botija At the entrance of the valley, they are hung on the rock walls. The Quebrada Botija Small plants are not necessarily young plants. Some parts, during difficult times, may die, leaving only a few heads alive. New ones may be reformed… or not. The Quebrada Botija An exceptional cristated specimen. The Quebrada Botija The access to the valley is now a bad track created by diggers a dozen years ago. The Quebrada Botija When I said a bad track… The Quebrada Botija After the rains, the valley can be well flowered. Here are some Alstroemeria. The Quebrada Botija In some places, there are some Eulychnia iquiquensis (or taltalensis), and some Euphorbia lactiflua (backwards, in the top right corner). The Quebrada Botija A venerable Euphorbia lactiflua The Quebrada Botija A bonsaï Euphorbia lactiflua, along with an Eriosyce paucicostata (floccosa)…. And a tiny Copiapoa atacamensis (probably). The Quebrada Botija Eriosyce paucicostata The Quebrada Botija Some Copiapoa atacamensis…. Nice ones…. But skinny ones compared to those we will see later. The Quebrada Botija Quickly, some Copiapoa decorticans appear and replace the Copiapoa ahremephiana, beyond a small area where they live together. The Quebrada Botija Copiapoa decorticans, described in 2002, is endemic to this part of the valley. Closer to the sea, there is none. Higher in the valley, there is none as well. The Quebrada Botija Its name comes from its tendency to dry at the base of the stem, revealing the sap conductor wood. The Quebrada Botija During rainy years, it flowers quite well. The Quebrada Botija …. Which is a tasty meal for insects … The Quebrada Botija Around 300m in altitude, the valley oriented to the east splits in two parts. One going to the north (picture), and the other one to the south. On the west side, where grows Copiapoa decorticans, it is granit. The Quebrada Botija On the east side, where the ground is black, grows Copiapoa solaris. The demarcation line is only a few meters wide. The Quebrada Botija Copiapoa solaris, some are in good health... The Quebrada Botija ….but some others suffered over the years… and suffered from the drought. The Quebrada Botija The east part of the valley. The one we will take to climb to the Botija peak. The Quebrada Botija Firstly, the track raises slowly, then gradually, as the valley narrows, becomes steeper and steeper… but nothing insurmountable. Around 700m high, Senecio Botijae. An endemic species again. Backwards, a Nolana, a genus of wide variety and omnipresent in Chile. A Nolana again. One may even find some violets : Viola polypoda. Of course, some Eriosyce paucicostata. Some are more floccosa than other ones. Of course, some Copiapoa atacamensis. And of course, some Copiapoa solaris. Then we arrive to the pass separating the Qda Botija from the Qda Izcuña. The fog following us from the morning is particularly dense… But we feel that the sun is close. There, at the feet of the rocks, stands a rather difficult to identify Copiapoa. It does not look like Copiapoa varispinata which grows lower in the Qda Izcuna. Neither to Copiapoa humilis. Rudolf Schulz talks about Copiapoa paposoensis, possibly… Or maybe a non yet described species… It is now time to begin climbing the Botija peak, stricly speaking, walking amidst Copiapoa atacamensis and solaris. But it is worth looking backwards from time to time… The clusters of Copiapoa atacamensis and solaris take incredible proportions. A few Eulychnia bring some verticality in all of these cushions. There are also some Oxalis. There are obviously several species. But impossible to find any literature about it. Cumulopuntia leucophaea, formerly also called Cumulopuntia sphaerica or berteri (or berteroi). This species is omnipresent in a big part of Chile, but is barely so photogenic ….. The Eriosyce are free flowering here, while lower in altitude we have seen no flowers at all. The fog was discreet during our climbing, but strongly returns when we arrive on the ridge that leads to the peak. At the risk of getting lost. ut all at once : clear blue sky ! And there… Breathtaking landscapes. We could even miss the cacti ! But what can we see in the background, at the top of the mountain? It simply is the Cerro Paranal, and at its top (2600m) the European Southern Observatory with the VLT, around twenty kilometers far. But it would be a pity not having a look to the cacti. Here is a beautiful Copiapoa solaris, along with a small Copiapoa atacamensis and surrounded by several Nolana. Guess what ! Some Copiapoa solaris ! Copiapoa solaris, flowering…. But that is not necessarily why we like them… Copiapoa atacamensis flowering as well Copiapoa atacamensis and Eulychnia (flowering) on the left in the background. Copiapoa atacamensis …. a "young" specimen…. Eulychnia iquiquensis (or whatever its name is) flowering. Flowers which are a tasty meal for hummingbirds… On the other hand, they have probably little else to eat… The peak is close, the slope eases. Eulychnia and Copiapoa are still there, along with other plants. Note the little white cushions. These are Cylindropuntia tunicata (?). The question is, how this north american plant got lost in this place? One can also find a few rare but magnificent Trichocereus deserticola. Finally the top ! 1100m. This was a nice walk of around twenty kilometers round trip from the beach that filled the entire day. Arrived to the top, the only option is to go down. This guanaco shows us the way..
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