The Sonoran Desert covers parts of Arizona, California, and Mexico and is known for its saguaro cactus.
It extends across southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California, and a small part of Baja California Sur. Unlike many deserts, the Sonoran receives two seasonal rainfall periods, allowing unusually rich plant and animal life.
The saguaro is the desert’s best-known plant and grows naturally only in the Sonoran region. Its tall, branching form has become a symbol of the American Southwest, although saguaros are especially characteristic of the Arizona portion of the desert.
The Sonoran is sometimes confused with the Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts. The Mojave lies mainly farther north and contains Joshua trees, while the Chihuahuan Desert is generally higher and covers a much larger area east of the Sonoran. The Sonoran’s combination of summer rain, winter rain, and warm temperatures helps explain its biological diversity.