Photo credit: Helena

As an icon of the southwest, Saguaro National Park is home to the nation’s largest cacti and so much more to discover.

In southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park, at about 91,000 acres, was established to preserve the famous stand of saguaro cacti. Saguaro consists of two different districts, the Tuscon Mountain District, which ranges from 2,180 feet to 4,687 feet, and the Rincon Mountain District, with its increase in rainfall and more moderate temperatures. The park is located within a desert, but contrary to what you might expect, there is an abundance of life. Plants here are adapted to drought; during long, dry periods they are able to go dormant in order to conserve their water. Within the rainy season these plants are able to come to life sprouting new green leaves. The animals have adapted to the desert’s high temperatures and scarce water supply, as well, and many species are only active at night or seek shelter in shaded nests and burrows. The giant saguaro cacti is the universal symbol of the American west and has been growing in this area for anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 years. These enormous, majestic cacti are silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert.

https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm