Ecological Region

The Chihuahuan Desert, North America's largest desert ecoregion, is bounded by the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental; it extends southward into Mexico. Recognized for its biological diversity, the Chihuahuan Desert is a rain shadow desert shaped by the surrounding mountain ranges. Home to unique endemic species, including plants and animals, the region showcases a mosaic of landscapes, from grasslands to shrublands.

In the heart of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico lies one of Earth's most biodiverse deserts—the Sonoran Desert. Known in Spanish as the Desierto de Altar, this extraordinary ecosystem challenges every preconception about desert life. Here, towering saguaro cacti create forests in the sky, desert bighorn sheep navigate rocky outcrops, and brief winter rains transform barren landscapes into carpets of wildflowers. Spanning across four states and two countries, the Sonoran Desert stands as a testament to life's remarkable ability to flourish in Earth's most demanding environments.