: a treeless windswept tableland or basin in the higher Andes
Examples of puna in a Sentence
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This high puna ecosystem, characterized by its harsh climate and sparse vegetation, is the natural territory of Peru’s national animal, the vicuña—a shy, elusive camelid renowned for having the world’s most luxurious wool.
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David Nolan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Deep wells or puna are cleaned of dirt and debris so the sea water that enters them through underground channels is clean and conducive to salt making.
—Deepa Bharath, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2024
Reviving the amunas could be complemented by projects to restore the puna, the high-altitude tundra ecosystem that, when healthy, holds water like a sponge.
—Simeon Tegel, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
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David Nolan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Deep wells or puna are cleaned of dirt and debris so the sea water that enters them through underground channels is clean and conducive to salt making.
—Deepa Bharath, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2024
Reviving the amunas could be complemented by projects to restore the puna, the high-altitude tundra ecosystem that, when healthy, holds water like a sponge.
—Simeon Tegel, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Puna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puna. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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