A hot desert of Arizona and north-west Mexico — the only place on Earth where the giant saguaro cactus grows wild.
Area
260,000 km²
Continent
North America
Location
Arizona & north-west Mexico
Temperature
Up to 48°C
Rainfall
75–400 mm a year
Climate
Hot desert
About the Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is the greenest of North America’s deserts, thanks to two separate rainy seasons. It is the only place where the towering saguaro cactus grows wild, its arms a symbol of the American West. Roadrunners, Gila monsters and desert tortoises all make their home among its cacti.
Did you know?
A saguaro cactus can live for more than 150 years and grow taller than 12 metres.
Highlights
- The only home of wild saguaro cacti
- Two rainy seasons bring surprising greenery
- Rich wildlife from Gila monsters to roadrunners
Photo gallery
Life in the Sonoran Desert
Animals, birds and plants that have adapted to survive this landscape.
Animals
Coyote
A clever, adaptable wild dog of North America’s deserts and plains.
Gila monster
One of the few venomous lizards, beaded in black and orange.
Desert tortoise
A long-lived reptile that digs burrows to escape the searing heat.
Birds
Greater roadrunner
A fast ground bird of the American deserts that chases down lizards.
Golden eagle
A mighty raptor that patrols open desert mountains and plains.
Trees & plants
Saguaro cactus
The giant armed cactus of the Sonoran Desert, living over 150 years.
Prickly pear
A flat-padded cactus with edible fruit, spread across many deserts.
Ocotillo
Whip-like spiny stems that burst into red flowers after rain.
Barrel cactus
A stout, ribbed cactus that swells with water after rare rains.
Day & night in the Sonoran Desert
Deserts are famous for their extreme temperature swings. Flip between day and night to feel the difference — these are typical figures for a subtropical desert.
Midday sun
+45°C
typical daytime high
Blistering daytime heat gives way to surprisingly cool nights — clear skies let the day’s warmth escape, and the temperature can tumble by 30°C or more after dark.
Recorded range for the Sonoran Desert: Up to 48°C