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Which of these Latin American countries has the largest desert scrub vegetation zone?

A. Chile.
B. Mexico.
C. Brazil.
D. Argentina.

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Chile has the largest desert scrub vegetation zone in Latin America, mainly due to the expansive Atacama Desert, which is renowned for being one of the driest places on the planet. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding the Latin American country with the largest desert scrub vegetation zone, the answer is A. Chile. This country is home to the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. While other countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina also have significant desert and scrub zones, none compare to the extensiveness of Chile's Atacama.

The Atacama Desert is situated in a rain shadow and is marked by extremely low precipitation, creating one of the most inhospitable environments for life, although it possesses significant copper and nitrate reserves valuable to human activities.

In contrast, the Chaco region extends from northern Argentina into western Paraguay, having its unique characteristics of scrublands and subtropical forests combined with wet and dry seasons. However, it does not match the sheer size of Chile's desert region. Brazil's Cerrado is largely a savanna, distinct from the desert scrub biomes, and while Argentina has arid regions like Patagonia, it similarly doesn't rival the Atacama's scale.

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