Sonora Gila Desert

Monday, July 9, 2012

Sonora Gila Desert

The Sonoran (Gila) Desert is a North American desert which covers large parts of the Southwestern United States in Arizona, California, Northwest Mexico in Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. Violence connected to drug smuggling on the border and in Mexico in general has caused problems with tourism, an important segment of the entire country. Federal troops have been stationed here due to the violence, which has the population divided.

The desert's sub-regions include Colorado Desert, Gran Desierto de Altar, Lechuguilla Desert, Tonopah Desert, Yuha Desert and Yuma Desert. The largest city in the Sonoran Desert is Phoenix, and the next largest beeing Tucson.

Sonoran desert protected areas include Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Sonoran Desert National Monument, Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Reserva de la Biosfera el Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, Indio Hills Palms State Reserve, Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, South Mountain Park and Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute.