áramos

Áramos are high-altitude neotropical ecosystems of the northern Andes, commonly known in English as páramos. They form a belt above the continuous forest, typically from about 3,000 to 4,800 meters above sea level, and occur in parts of Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru and western Venezuela. The landscape comprises peat bogs, tussock grasslands, and cushion-plant communities shaped by cool, moist conditions and frequent fog and mist.

The climate is cool and humid, with temperatures commonly ranging around 5–12 °C and substantial year-round precipitation. Cloud cover is frequent, and soils are usually shallow and organic-rich, often peat-forming. The resulting hydrology makes páramos key water reservoirs that feed upper river basins downstream.

Flora and fauna are adapted to harsh high-altitude conditions. The ecosystem is famous for frailejóns (Espeletia), large cushion plants, grasses, and mosses. Animal life includes high-altitude birds and small mammals adapted to low oxygen and cold temperatures, with many species endemic to the páramo habitat.

Ecologically, páramos play a crucial role as water towers, storing moisture in peat and releasing it gradually to headwaters that support human populations and agriculture downstream. They also sequester carbon in peat soils, contributing to climate regulation.

Threats to áramos include climate change, overgrazing, burning, mining, and infrastructure development. Many páramo areas lie within protected areas or national parks, reflecting their ecological and hydrological importance. Indigenous and local communities historically rely on páramos for grazing, fuel, and increasingly, ecotourism, while managing resources to balance use with conservation.