1. A high, cold, dry plateau in the Andes Mountains of South America, characterized by sparse vegetation and thin air.
Usage: geography; often used in Spanish-speaking contexts

Examples

• The paramo of Colombia stretches across high mountain regions above the tree line.
• Hikers must acclimatize to the thin air of the paramo before attempting the summit.
• The paramo ecosystem supports hardy grasses and low-growing shrubs adapted to cold temperatures.
• Scientists study the paramo to understand how plants survive in extreme alpine conditions.
• The paramo receives frequent rainfall despite its arid appearance.