Saguaro National Park is part of the national park system. This particular national park is located in the southwestern United States in the state of Arizona. The city of Tucson is nearby, approximately 16 km (10 mi) from the park, Saguaro National Park is part of the Sonoran Desert and is named after the ubiquitous saguaro cacti that inhabit the Sonoran Desert.
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History
The area that makes up this national park was once inhabited by people. The Hohokam, Apache and Tohono O'odham peoples lived in this area. Spanish explorers, miners, servants and ranchers once called the area home. The mining once took place in the areas that now make up this national park. In 1933, this area was converted into a protected area for the Saguaro cactus. The lands that would make up Saguaro National Park have since expanded. The current land plots that now make up this national park were created in 1994.
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Tourism
Saguaro National Park is the main recreation area. This park is popular with tourists. Cycling is also popular in the park, but is only allowed in designated areas. Approximately 165 miles of trail are found in the Saguaro National Park. Petroglyphs have been found on rocks in the Tucson Mountain District. These petroglyphs, a form of rock art, were made by Hohokam. These historical artifacts can be viewed easily, especially from the Signal Hill Trail. Petroglyphs are works of art over 800 years ago. These activities are some of the things that attract tourists.
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Uniqueness
What makes Saguaro National Park unique is that it was founded primarily to protect the Saguaro cactus, which is found in the Sonoran Desert and nowhere else in the world. The large saguaro cactus is synonymous with the southwestern United States.
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Habitat
Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Saguaro National Park is home to the desert. This park is mountainous, with the Rincon and Tucson Mountains located within the park. Saguaro National Park also includes springs and streams. Saguaro National Park is home to grasslands, desert shrubs, and some woodland. Supports varied habitats of a huge variety of plants and animals. Plant communities are located in the park. A plant community is a community of plants of the same species found in a geographic region.
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| Saguaro National Park |
There are several desert bush plant communities.These plant communities are located at the bottom of the park. Desert grass plant communities can be found in higher elevation areas. And as the name of this park suggests, the Saguaro cactus is ubiquitous in this park. Several types of oak and pine can also be found in the park, including the Gambel oak and the Ponderosa Pine. Among the fauna located in the park are darts (species of wild pigs), rabbits, owls, cacti, rattlesnakes, thorny lizards, Gila monsters and even several types of frogs.
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Threats
Saguaro National Park was dedicated to protecting the Saguaro cactus as well as the biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. The introduction of invasive species is a serious problem. Invasive species will cause problems and they will deplete the resources used by the plants in the region. In some cases, such as buffelgrass, they can cause other environmental problems that can kill. Several non-native grasses are known to cause wildfires that have killed a number of native plants, including some saguaro cacti.
What is Saguaro National Park?
Saguaro National Park is an area of 92,000 acres located in southeastern Arizona.