Archive for the ‘Desert’ Tag

Vulture Peak’s jagged profile glowing in the sunset light is a dramatic sight rising above the Arizona desert. Walking up the eroded remains of an ancient volcano, hikers are treated to stunning views and curious rock formations along the trail. If you’re thinking of conquering the summit this summer, park in the Bureau of Land Management lot and take plenty of water! Photo by Raymond Lee. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 8/2/17.
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The 97,880-acre Eagletail Mountains Wilderness is about 65 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona, in Maricopa, Yuma and LaPaz counties. The wilderness includes 15 miles of the Eagletail Mountains ridgeline and Courthouse Rock to the north, Cemetary Ridge to the south, and a large desert plain area between the two ridgelines. Several different rock strata are visible in most places with natural arches, high spires, monoliths, jagged sawtooth ridges and numerous washes six to eight miles long. Recreation such as extended horseback riding and backpacking trips, sightseeing, photography, rock climbing and day hiking are enhanced by the topographic diversity, scenic character, size – as well as the botanical, wildlife, and cultural values of the area. Photo by Bob Wick. Tweeted by the U Department of the Interior, 9/8/15.
Here’s a dramatic shot of sage steppe desert at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Nicknamed the sagebrush sea, the sagebrush landscape spans 11 western states. While this landscape might look like a barren desert, the sagebrush steppe is home to more than 350 wildlife species, including elk, pronghorn, golden eagles and the sage grouse.
http://on.doi.gov/1Kt9AlY Called an indicator species, the sage grouse provides biologists with an early warning about the state of other species that call the sagebrush home. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/23/15.
Sage Grouse, from the US Department of the Interior blog post about the Sage Grouse.
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Big Bend National Park is named after a large curve in the Rio Grande and the US/Mexico border … but much of the Park is desert,such as in this beautiful landscape. Photo by Erik Walker. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/15/15.
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Big Bend National Park
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A Joshua Tree in the Antelope Valley.
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Silver Cholla with Indian Rice grass growing in bunches in the foreground

Fiddleneck

Fremont’s Pincushion
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