A person stripped of clothing, water, and shade in the morning could be dead by evening. Many become creatures of the night, as depicted in the accompanying foldout. The saguaro cactus develops an intricate, shallow root system that allows this desert giant to absorb and store up to 760 liters of water. The kangaroo rat recycles and retains water so that very little moisture is lost through urination.
Birds ride warm currents of air to find relief at great heights.
Cicadas extract water from their blood and transport this water through large ducts to the surface of their body, where it evaporates. Despite the heat, the Sonoran Desert is considered by many to be the most beautiful North American desert. With more than 2,500 species of plants, it is the most botanically diverse desert, providing abundant food sources for animals. Despite the torrid temperatures, the Sonoran is a magnet for the millions of people surrounding this region who are attracted by its rich natural resources and open spaces. Encompassing 312,000 square kilometers, the Sonoran Desert is spread across Mexico and the United States.