Geography
Why Ephemeral Streams Create Distinct Desert Fluvial Ecosystems
Quick fact
Even though they are dry for most of the year, ephemeral streams in deserts can experience floods with peak flows thousands of times their normal volume, carving new channels in a single event and creating habitats that support uniquely adapted life.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a river that exists for only a few hours after a storm, then vanishes. In deserts, these fleeting streams are the architects of entire ecosystems.