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Activities in the Desert

Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's surface. They are classified as areas of land that receive less than 10 inches per year of precipitation and may be subdivided into different types such as hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold. The extreme environmental factors provide a unique mixture of plants, animals, and wide open spaces all of which make for great activities in the desert.

Wilderness Walk
- Round-tail squirrels may be found in a desert environment
  
  Often the camel is the first animal people think of when they imagine the desert. Camels certainly are very well suited for desert environments. However, there are many other creatures that make the desert's sandy ecosystem their home including foxes, jackrabbits and wolves. You can find owls, hawks and hummingbirds flying in deserts. Of course, many insects and lizards also have characteristics perfect for living in a desert. A fun desert activity is to research the kinds of animals that live in the desert you are visiting, go for a wilderness walk and seek them out.
Plant and Flower Search
- Many strange and beautiful varieties of cactus may be found in the desert.
  
  Some of the most unusual and bizarre plants may be found in the desert. This is because these plants had to evolve their physical and behavioral mechanisms over thousands of years to be able to survive the extremes of heat and aridity found in a desert. Take advantage of these adaptations by going on a plant and flower search in the desert. You may find wildflowers, cacti, shrubs and trees you've never seen anywhere else.
Photography
- The open spaces in a desert make for great photographs.
  
  Given the difficulty of farming and building in desert regions, they are often empty and vast or between massive canyons. Also, they often receive a lot of sun and have sands of different colors depending on the kinds of minerals in the soil. The soft tones of yellow, brown and white can make the desert a great place for taking photos. Take your camera and enjoy a day photographing the flora and fauna, wide open spaces and dramatic compositions the desert provides.
Sandboarding
- If you are looking for a more thrilling activity in the desert, sandboarding may be what you're after. Sandboarding is similar in form to snowboarding, except people glide along sand instead of snow. Sandboarders take advantage of the large sand dunes that form in the desert by riding up them on an all-terrain vehicle and then riding their sandboards down the dune.
Camping &Star Gazing
- Deserts are often far away from cities, making them great for star gazing.
  
  The warm climates and little chance precipitation may make deserts suitable for camping. After a day of wilderness walks, flower searches, photography and sandboarding, you may just want to relax and camp in the evening. Many deserts are located far away from city light pollution, making them great places for star gazing. Most deserts are taken care of by state and federal organizations that manage the land. These organizations have rules about what you can and can't do when you camp. The dryness of the desert makes it at risk for fires. Be sure to check with these organizations before you set up camp.

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