Consists on large regions without trees that crown the tops of ridges above the Andean and tropical forests. These regions are cold and wet, suffering abrupt weather changing, and are almost always covered by fog, receive frequent rainfall, and often buffeted by the winds.
Cold and rainy days can be alternate with sunny and warm days; but nights are always cold. The vegetation mostly consist on grass, mosses, lichens, small shrubs, polylepiss trees, of a medium size, native of the Andean areas, as well as many other species of micro flora, orchids, bromeliads, among others.
The fauna of this ecosystem depends on the geographical location. Here is the habitat of species such as the grey deer (Mazama gouazoubira), the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the vizcacha (Lagostumus maximus), the Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), wild guinea pigs and other animals. There is also a wide variety of birds, like mountain toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, cara-caras, raptors, and so on.
