Garua

/ɡɑːˈruːə/ noun

Definition

A fine, cool mist or light drizzle common in coastal regions of Peru and Chile, particularly the Atacama Desert area.

Etymology

From Spanish and Quechua origins, reflecting indigenous Andean terminology. The word describes a meteorological phenomenon specific to the Pacific coast of South America. Quechua, the indigenous language of the Andes, contributed many environmental terms to Spanish and then to English.

Kelly Says

Garua is how life survives the Atacama Desert—this mysterious fog rolls in from the ocean and sustains entire ecosystems and ancient human civilizations in one of Earth's driest places. It's a weather pattern with a soul.

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