Magellanic moorland
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The Magellanic moorland or Magellanic tundra (Spanish: Tundra magallánica) is an ecoregion on the Patagonian archipelagos south of latitude 48° S. It is characterized by high rainfall with a vegetation of scrubs, bogs and patches of forest in more protected areas. Cushion plants, grass-like plants and bryophytes are common.[1]
At present there are outliers of Magellanic moorland as far north as in the highlands of Cordillera del Piuchén (latitude 42° 22' S) in Chiloé Island.[2][3] During the Llanquihue glaciation Magellanic moorland extended to the non-glaciated lowlands of Chiloé Island[2] and further north to the lowlands of Chilean lake district (latitude 41° S).[4]
The classification of Magellanic moorland has proven problematic as substrate, low temperatures and exposure to the ocean influences the development of the Magallanic moorland. It thus may qualify either as polar tundra or heathland.[5]