How the Andes Mountains Might Have Killed a Bunch of Whales

Cerro Ballena, a fossil site in the Atacama Desert, holds remains of marine mammals from the Miocene Epoch. Researchers explored various hypotheses for the mass deaths, including natural disasters and diseases, but settled on harmful algal blooms as the likely cause. These blooms, fueled by iron-rich runoff from the Andes, poisoned marine life, leading to repeated mass strandings. The study highlights the interconnectedness of Earth's systems, from ocean currents to climate cycles.

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