The Monte shrubland is distinct from the steppes of Patagonia and the puna in that it does not have an Andean element, it is instead related to the thorn forests of the Chaco, and has a mesothermal climatic type as opposed to a microthermal climatic type. Rainfall is sporadic, but mainly occurs during the warm months (60% of total precipitation occurs in summer) and elevations range from sea level to 2800 m (9186 ft) above sea level.