The Sonoran Desert – Small Group Tours of the Southwest
The Sonoran Desert is an immense desert that offers a diverse amount of wildlife for viewing.
The Sonoran desert is one of the hottest and largest deserts in North America. Encompassing around 120,000 square miles, only less than one-third of which is within the United States, the Sonoran Desert contains a wealth of animal, plants and natural wonders. The reason that so many varied species can survive and thrive in the desert is that the rainfall is bimodal, meaning that there are two rain seasons within one year. This allows for a higher amount of water per year than that of most deserts. And even though it is the hottest desert in North America, the Sonoran desert has been known to experience freezing conditions for a few nights every winter.
For information about our tour visit Southwest Adventures.
Among this subtropical desert’s inhabitants are those unique to the area such as the long-tongued and long-nosed bats, Gila woodpecker, the desert pupfish and the Gila topminnow. Some of the more well-known residents include coyote, quail, jackrabbit, rattlesnake, and tarantula. All of these animals have been able to adapt to the difficulties of living under such severe conditions.
Temperatures in the desert can easily reach 120° Fahrenheit and even with the biannual rainfalls this can make for a harsh living environment. Plants have adapted to this rigorous life. Many varieties have come to rely less heavily on leaves, such as the ocotillo and the creosote bush. Another interesting fact is that there are creosote bushes that are believed to be thousands of years old. Other notable adapters are various cacti, saltbush, palo verde, and mesquite.
Kartchner Caverns
Kitt Peak Observatory
San-Xavier Mission
Arizona Travel – Read about the attractions above that are located in and around the Sonoran Desert, and also visited on our southwest vacation. Click on the buttons to go to the information pages.
If you have any questions about our Arizona and New Mexico Adventure Tours please feel free to contact us at info@traveldreamwest.com. Our Southwest Adventure tour is scheduled for at least once a year, and can be booked for a group as a custom adventure travel tour at other times.
