Southern Andean steppe

The Southern Andean steppe is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion occurring along the border of Chile and Argentina in the high elevations of the southern Andes mountain range.

Setting
This ecoregion is found from 3500 to 5000 m in the north to 1800 to 3000 m in the south. At higher elevations are found permanent snow, glaciers, and ice fields. At lower elevations, this ecoregion grades into Chilean matorral and Valdivian temperate forests to the west and High Monte to the east. To the north it transitions to the Central Andean dry puna and to the south the Patagonian steppe.

Climate
This ecoregion has a cold desert climate, Köppen climate classification BWk. Precipitation falls mainly in winter.

Flora
The flora of this ecoregion is adapted to its cold, dry, and windy climate. Many of the plant genera have evolved endemic species.

The plants on the western side of this ecoregion can be divided into three zones based on their growth forms and elevation. In the lower elevations, 2000 to 2700 m, grow large shrubs such as Chuquiraga oppositifolia and Nassauvia axillaris. In intermediate elevations, 2700 to 3300 m, grow small shrubs, tussock grasses, and cushions. These include Azorella madreporica, Laretia acaulis, and Stipa spp. In the highest elevations, extending to 3900 m, grow small forbs, rosettes, and grasses such as Nassauvia lagascae, Oxalis erythrorhiza, Nassauvia pinnigera and Moschopsis leyboldii.

The plants on the eastern side do not grow in distinct zones. In the lower elevations, 1900 to 2700 m, grow plants of the genera Stipa, Adesmia, Mulinum, Nassauvia, and Chuquiraga. Higher, from 2700 to 3300 m, are shrubs and cushion plants of Oxalis, Junellia, Adesmia, Laretia and Azorella. At the highest elevations, 3300 to 4500 m, grow Senecio, Nassauvia, Chaetanthera, Draba, Barneoudia, Leucheria, and Moschopsis.

Fauna
The fauna is similar to that of the Central Andean dry puna and the Patagonian steppe. Large mammals found here include the puma (Puma concolor), the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) and the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe).

Contemporary land use
This ecoregion's high elevations and harsh climate make it unsuitable for development or farming, so it has experienced little habitat loss.

Protected areas
21.165% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include:
 * Abra del Acay Natural Monument
 * Caverna de las Brujas Nature Reserve
 * Cerro Aconcagua Provincial Park
 * El Leoncito National Park
 * El Morado Natural Monument
 * Laguna del Diamante Nature Reserve
 * Laguna del Laja National Park
 * Nevado Tres Cruces National Park
 * Puente del Inca Natural Monument
 * Río Clarillo National Reserve
 * Río de los Cipreses National Reserve
 * San Guillermo National Park
 * Volcán Tupungato Provincial Park
 * Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary