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DESERTS
OF
NORTH AMERICA
“THOSE WHO
CONTEMPLATE THE
BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
FIND
RESERVES OF STRENGTH
THAT
WILL ENDURE AS LONG AS
LIFE LASTS”
AND
DESERT NATIONAL
PARKS
RACHEL CARSON
WHAT IS A DESERT?
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•
•
•
•
HOT
SAND DUNES
NO PLANTS
NO ANIMALS
NO WATER
SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
DESERTS !!
• YES, SOME ARE HOT, BUT SOME ARE COLD
• SOME HAVE SAND DUNES, OTHERS DO
NOT. (ROCK RUBBLE, BARE ROCK OR SALT
FLATS)
• PLANTS ARE SOPHISTICATED AND HAVE
MECHANISMS ALLOWING THEM TO EXIST IN
DESERT OR ARID ENVIRONMENTS
• ANIMALS ARE PRESENT, BUT THEY ARE
CAMOUFLAGED, LIVE BELOW GROUND AND
ARE ACTIVE AT NIGHT
• WATER / PRECIPITATION !!!!!!
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CAUSES OF DESERTS
• RAINSHADOW EFFECT
• COLD OCEAN / WARM LAND
• INTERIOR BASIN
10 INCHES
OR
LESS
HIGH EVAPORATION
RAINSHADOW EFFECT
OCEAN CURRENTS
COLD OCEAN / WARM LAND CONTRAST
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THE GREAT BASIN DESERT
• The largest desert in North America
• Covers most of Nevada, western third of
Utah and parts of Idaho and Oregon
• The winds are due to an orographic effect.
• Lies in the rain shadow of the Cascades
• Sagebrush territory
• It is not a single basin, but a series of
basins and mountain ranges.
• This is a cold desert.
• Most basins are over 4,000 feet.
• Much of the precipitation is in the form of
snow.
NPS EXAMPLES IN THE GREAT BASIN DESERT
GREAT BASIN NP
BRYCE CANYON NP
ARCHES NP
THE MOJAVE DESERT
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•
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The Joshua Tree is an indicator
It is considered a hot desert
Southern part of Nevada
Southern California
Smallest desert in N.A.
Driest of all deserts
• Most areas receive less than 6 inches of
rain per year.
• Much of the rainfall is monsoonal
• Baghdad, CA in the heart of the Mojave
went 767 days without rain.
• Extremely high temperature…..Death
Valley all time high 137 degrees.
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NPS EXAMPLES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT
THE SONORAN DESERT
JOSHUA TREE NP
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Southern part of California and Arizona
Hot desert
Biologically the richest desert
Most moisture occurs during the summer
monsoon
• Home to the saguaro cactus and the organ
pipe
ANZA BORREGO
DESERT PARK, CA
THOUSAND PALM
CANYON, CA
NPS EXAMPLES OF THE GREAT BASIN DESERT
ORGAN PIPE
CACTUS NM
PETRIFIED FOREST NP
SUNSET CRATER NM
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS
SAGUARO CACTUS
THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
• Primarily in Mexico between the Sierra
Madre and Sierra Oriental; extreme west
Texas and south central New Mexico
• High elevations 3,000 – 6,000 feet
• Rainfall averages 8 to 12 inches
• High rainfall, calcareous soils, and cool
winters – grasses and yuccas.
• Agaves or Century Plants dominate the
desert landscape.
AGAVE / CENTURY PLANT
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NPS EXAMPLES IN THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
BIG BEND NP
WHITE SANDS NM
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NP
PLANT SURVIVAL IN A DESERT
SURVIVAL
• Extensive lateral root system
• Ability to store moisture
• Little leaves or no leaves – lessens
transpiration…..OR…..loses leaves
altogether during extensive drought
• Chlorophyll in bark
• Spines and waxy skins
• Protective mechanisms
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GILA MONSTER
ANIMAL SURVIVAL IN THE DESERT
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SURVIVAL
• Heat and moisture problems
• Migration
• Crepuscular ( active only at dusk and at
dawn)
• Live underground, burrowing animals
• Store or retain moisture
• Metabolism uniqueness – rodents,
manufacture water from digestion of
dry seeds
CAYOTE
JAVELINA
RATTLESNAKE
LAND IGAUANA
DESERT RAT
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CAPSTONE EXAMPLE
WHERE IT ALL COMES
TOGETHER
BIG BEND
NATIONAL
PARK
BIG HORN SHEEP
How are we going to build the fence?
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
WHERE RAINBOWS WAIT FOR RAIN
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Gem of the Chihuahuan Desert
You Really Want To Visit When You Go
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
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RIO GRANDE RIVER
SANTA ELANA CANYON
CHISOS MOUNTAINS
CASA GRANDE
RIVER, MOUNTAINS, DESERT
• Established – 1944 – National Park
• Location – Texas (trans Pecos)
• Size – 1,108.44 square miles;
708,118.40 acres
• Terrain – canyons, mountains, river and desert
• Wildlife – deer, mountain lions, javelinas, and
mucho birds
• Highlights – Casa Grande, Santa Elena
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
THE CANYONS OF BIG BEND
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RUNNING WATER IS
THE DOMINANT AGENT
OF EROSION AND THE
CUTTING POWER OF THE
RIO GRANDE IS SEEN
IN THE SPECTACULAR
CANYONS OF BIG BEND
NATIONAL PARK
MOUTH OF SANTA ELENA CANYON
AND TERLINGUA CREEK
INSIDE SANTA ELENA CANYON
BOQUILLAS CANYON
MARISCAL CANYON
RUNNING WATER ON THE DESERT
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INTERMITTENT STREAM, WASH, ARROYO, WADI
TUFF CANYON
TUFF CANYON
TANAJA
TUFF CANYON
EXPLORING THE DESERT
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MULE EARS
VOLCANIC DIKE
DAGGER FLATS
GRAPEVINE HILLS
CHISOS MOUNTAINS FROM TORNILLO FLAT
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GRAPEVINE HILLS
…..”to conserve the scenery and the
natural and historic objects and the wild
life therein……
CLIMBING FOR WATER, DIGGING FOR WOOD
THE CHISOS MOUNTAINS
…and to provide for the enjoyment of the same
in such a manner and such means
THANK YOU
as will leave them unimpaired for the
enjoyment of future generations.”
SUNSET OVER THE CHISOS
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QUESTIONS
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