The Monte Desert lies east of the Andes and includes parts of Mendoza and La Pampa in Argentina.
The Monte is an arid to semi-arid region extending through western Argentina, from the Andean foothills toward the country’s central plains. Its vegetation commonly includes shrubs, thorny bushes, grasses, and columnar or globular cacti. Rainfall is generally low and irregular, while temperatures vary with latitude and elevation.
The Andes strongly influence the region’s dryness by blocking moist air from the Pacific. In the north, the Monte grades toward other dry Argentine environments; farther south, it transitions toward the Patagonian Desert.
The Monte Desert is sometimes mistakenly treated as simply another name for the Patagonian Desert. They are neighboring but distinct biogeographic regions. The Monte generally occupies warmer areas north of Patagonia and has characteristic thorn-scrub vegetation adapted to desert conditions.