Hobbies And Interests
The Sonoran Desert
The vast Sonoran Desert stretches across 120,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona, southeastern California and western Sonora, Mexico. The Sonoran Desert is the hottest desert in North America. However, it is home to a wide range of plant and animal species. Plants include cottonwood, black walnut, Saguaro cactus, Palo Verde trees, catclaw acacias and ironwoods. Animals found in the desert include gray wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, Gila monsters and cactus pygmy owls.
The Painted Desert
The Painted Desert encompasses more 93,500 acres and stretches for more than 160 miles from Cameron, Arizona to the Petrified Forest 26 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona. The desert gets its name from its vibrant, multicolored landscape that includes lavender, gray, pink and orange. The colors result from the irregular erosion of the layers of red and yellow sediment and clay. Although it was the home of ancient Native American tribes, it wasn't seen by modern civilization until Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th Century.
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountain Range is located in the southeastern corner of the state along the border with New Mexico. It is one of several "sky island ranges" that rise from desert grasslands. Elevation ranges from 3,600 feet to over 9,760 feet at the summit of Flys Peak. The region is home to a diverse range of species including over a thousand species of plants such as prickly pear cactus, hedgehog cactus, cane cholla cactus, agave, manzanita, pine and mesquite. Animals in the region include white-tailed deer, black bears, western box turtles, rattlesnakes and goshawks.
Dos Cabezas
The Dos Cabezas Mountains are located in the southeastern corner of the state within the boundaries of the 11,700 acre Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness operated by the Bureau of Land Management. The rugged slopes range in elevation from 4,080 feet to 7,500 feet. They are home to rich variety of species including bald eagles, collared lizards, mule deer, mountain lions and golden eagles. Some plant species include juniper trees, walnut trees, wild grapevines and scarlet creepers.
Pinaleno Mountains
The Pinaleno or Graham Mountains are located in southern Arizona. The tallest peak is Mt. Graham, which rises 10,720 feet above the surrounding deserts. "Sky islands," like the Graham Mountains, are the landlocked equivalents of an island where many species develop in isolation. According to the Mount Graham Coalition, 18 species are unique to Mt. Graham including the Mt. Graham red squirrel, long-tailed vole and pinoleno pocket gopher. It is also the location of the Mt. Graham International Observatory.