The Sonoran Desert is an arid region covering approximately 100,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, as well as most of Baja California and the western half of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Warm winters attract tourists to Sonora Desert resorts in Palm Springs, California, Tucson, and Phoenix, Arizona. It’s the hottest desert in Mexico and the second …
Nothing reminds you about the importance of water like experiencing summer in the desert! Now that summer heat has descended upon Phoenix, the hot, dry air can seem relentless. It is a good way to keep in mind why water is the desert’s most precious resource. We all need water to live, but it’s important to realize that the …
Sometimes the desert in Arizona gets so hot you have to wonder how other animals get by without the benefit of cooling sunshades. Yet, for centuries Sonoran wildlife has developed and adapted to the extremes of desert temperatures. Part of their strategy is similar to ours – get in the shade for a simple, natural cool. Other fauna is crepuscular …
Here in the Sonoran Desert, we’re used to extremes of hot and dry weather. Sometimes, this can make the reality of climate change seem abstract and hard to see, but rising global temperatures are setting into motion a cascade of drastic changes to ecosystems and weather patterns. From the severe polar vortex winter storms striking the Midwest to the widespread …
Spring is a great time to hit the road and take a weekend trip. With hundreds of great spots to explore just a short drive from Phoenix, a road trip is just the thing for finding a new adventure. Before the summer starts heating up, it’s also a good time to get out to some off-the-beaten path locations like the …
Have you ever wondered how the native cacti of the Sonoran Desert can survive the hot, arid challenges of Arizona summer? It turns out that many cacti get by with a little help from their friends. In an evolved connection, cacti thrive in conjunction with colonies of ants, both specially adapted to benefit the other. The Generous Cactus Looking close …
If you live in the desert, you’ve probably noticed the sudden burst of color across the hills and roadsides. Not only has the Spring brought an invigorating greenness to the plants of the Sonoran Desert, but thanks to our Winter rainfall, a full rainbow of blooms is now happening across the region. From late February until May expect to encounter …
With the winter chill behind us, springtime in central Arizona is the perfect time to plan an adventure in the vast beauty of the Sonoran Desert. This year, exploring the desert features not only ideal weather but a bursting display of wildflower blooms. The chance to spot birds, animals and other wildlife also increases, especially as desert reptiles emerge from …
Beautiful surroundings are something Arizonans almost take for granted. From our astounding geology to its tenacious ecology, our Sonoran Desert shows us breathtaking beauty and natural wonder. Have you ever wondered what shaped this land? Behind the rock formations, climate patterns, flora and fauna there lies an ancient history that the region is still connected to. Based in part on …
Flat, sandy, arid grasslands characterize the countryside east of Flagstaff, between the wooded hills of the Mogollon Rim and the delicate hues of the Painted Desert. Perhaps the most significant major attraction is the Meteor Crater, which lies 6 miles south of I-40, halfway between Winslow and Winona. This huge depression, 0.74 miles in diameter and 550 feet deep, was …