Ajo Peak To Tinajas Altas: Flora Of Southwestern Arizona (Combined)

An introduction is provided for the modern and fossil vascular plant flora of the contiguous protected areas of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and the Tinajas Altas Region in southwestern Arizona—the heart of the Sonoran Desert. These three entities encompass 514,242 hectares (1,270,700 acres), approximately 5141 km (1985 mi ). Elevation and ecological diversity generally decreases from east (Organ Pipe) to west (Tinajas Altas) while aridity increases from east to west, both correlating with decreasing botanical diversity.

Sierra San Francisco, 2015

The Sierra San Francisco is a low-desert mountain range at the edge of the Gran Desierto of northwest Sonora. This range is owned by an ejido and protected as desert bighorn sheep habitat.

Early 2015 was quite lush due to good winter rains and previous-year hurricane remnant moisture.

Ajo Peak To Tinajas Altas: A Flora In Southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae – Cactus Family

A floristic account is provided for the cactus family as part of the vascular plant flora of the contiguous protected areas of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and the Tinajas Altas Region in the heart of the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona. The modern native cactus flora includes 35 taxa in 12 genera, plus 2 non-native prickly- pears that are not established in the flora area.

Offroad race planned for Gran Desierto de Altar

desierto

Rally Diabolico(Update: this race has been put on hold, likely due to permit issues with the Mexican government.)

Southern California based off-roaders are organizing a "TRUE off-road" rally race across some of the most intact and undamaged land in North America. The exact route has not been released to the public or participants to prevent scouting. Most likely it will occur to the west or southwest of the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve and potentially within the Alto Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve in western Sonora.

This area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and part of numerous protected areas on both sides of the border together making one of the largest protected areas in North America. Beyond these designations it is incredibly beautiful and biologically rich. More than 540 species of vascular plants, 44 mammals, more than 200 birds and over 40 reptiles inhabit the seemingly inhospitable desert*. Noteworthy species include the Sonoran Pronghorn, an endemic subspecies restricted to the south-western Arizona and north-western Sonora and threatened by extinction.