The saguaro has been called monarch of the Sonoran Desert, supreme symbol of the American Southwest, and a plant with personality. It is renowned for the variety of odd, all-too-human shapes it assumes—shapes that inspire wild and fanciful imaginings. Since 1933 this extraordinary giant cactus has been protected within the Saguaro National Park. Preserved with it are other members of the Sonoran Desert community—other cacti, desert trees and shrubs, and animals. In lushness and variety of life, the Sonoran Desert far surpasses all other North American deserts. And yet it is one of the hottest and driest regions on the continent. Summer midday temperatures commonly climb above 100 degrees. Fewer than 12 inches of rain falls in a typical year. Between the summer and winter rainy seasons it is not unusual for months to pass without a drop of rain. Plants and animals able to survive in this environment, with adaptations specially designed for desert survival, make up one of the most interesting and unusual ecosystems in the United States. This world awaits you in the desert plains, mountains, and foothills of Saguaro National Park.