-->

• The Sonoran desert covers the south-east corner of California and the south-west region of Arizona. It runs south through Baja California, Mexico and through western Mexico, adjacent to the Gulf of California.

  The Sonoran is significantly hotter than the Mojave desert, which lies directly to its north.

• Fast Facts

  1. AKA: Gila Desert, Low Desert
  2. Climate: Dry TropicalBlue Planet: Sonoran Desert Climate
  3. One of the largest and hottest deserts in North America
  4. Covers 55 million acres
  5. Only place the Saguaro Cactus grows in the wild
  6. Location: latitude 25° to 33° North and longitude 105° to 118° WestBlue Planet: Sonoran Desert
  7. Time zone: MSTZerve: Sonoran Time Zone
  8. Spans across the states of Arizona, California and Baja California
  9. Animals: Blue Planet: Sonoran Desert Animals
  10. • Banded Gila Monster
  11. • Bobcat
  12. • Cactus Wren
  13. • Coyote
  14. • Desert Bighorn
  15. • Javelina
  16. • Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
  17. • Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope
  18. • Sonoran Toad
  19. Plants: Blue Planet: Sonoran Desert Plants
  20. • Barrel Cactus
  21. • Brittle Bush
  22. • Desert Ironwood
  23. • Chain Fruit Cholla
  24. • Creosote Bush
  25. • Crimson Hedgehog Cactus
  26. • Ocotillo
  27. • Palo Verde
  28. • Saguaro Cactus
  29. • Soaptree Yucca
  30. • Teddybear or Jumping Cholla
  31. • Triangle-leaf Bursage
  32. • Velvet Mesquite

• Sonoran Habitation

  Phoenix, Arizona is the Sonora's most populous metropolitan area, followed by Tucson. Phoenix averages highs of over 100 degrees during the months of June, July and August. Even so, it is one of the United States' fastest growing urban areas.

  In Mexico, Baja's Mexicali has a population of about 900,000 people, and an average July temperature high of 107 degrees.

• Plant and Animal Life

  The Sonoran is home to over 2000 plant species, supported by three to 15 inches of rain every year. Based on annual rainfall, the Sonoran is the wettest desert in the world. Over 300 species of bird also thrive in the Sonoran desert and over 100 species of reptile take refuge in the desert's more mountainous regions.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Arizona | California | Mojave Desert | United States | Mexico | Gulf of California | Arizona Outdoors | California Outdoors | Chihuahuan Desert | Great Basin Desert | Pronghorns

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page