The summer monsoons add moisture to the Sonoran desert, as do winter rains. These rains make it one of the most, if not the most, biologically diverse desert on the planet. There are also several mountain ranges throughout the Sonoran desert and Santa Cruz County sits at the edge of the uplands division in the Sonoran desert. Some of the natural vegetation consists of yuccas, prickly pear cactus, agavas, ocotillos, barrel cactus, mesquite, walnut & cottonwood trees.
Deserts know no political boundaries. The Sonoran Desert lies in parts of four states in two countries: Sonora and Baja California in Mexico, and southern Arizona and the southeastern corner of California in the United States. Due to fuzzy regional boundaries, the extent and borders of the Sonoran Desert vary depending on the source.
The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.
The Center for Desert Archaeology, a private nonprofit organization, promotes the stewardship of archaeological and historic resources in the American Southwest and Mexican Northwest through active research, preservation, and public education.