Explanation – Humboldt’s enigma refers to an observation made by the famous naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in the early 19th century. He noticed that mountain regions, despite being located outside the tropics, often exhibit exceptionally high levels of biodiversity. This was surprising because at that time it was held that biodiversity peaked in tropical regions due to their warm temperatures and abundant rainfall. The northern Andes range, which includes Chimborazo, is recognized as the world’s most biodiverse location.

Source: Forum IAS