After the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon, the Sonoran Desert is probably Arizona's most famous natural feature. No one who has ever been there can ever forget the sight of the majestic Saguaro cacti rising like miracles out of the harsh and forbidding soil. If you are planning on visiting soon, here's a little more about it.

The Sonoran Desert covers a full 120,000 square miles and has its home in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California. It is a hot, arid region where only the hardiest and most adaptable species of plants, reptiles, birds, and animals can survive. It is mainly visited by people during the warm and pleasant winter months, for temperatures will soar to 120 degrees during the summer. No matter what people may say about the comfort of "dry heat," there is nothing comfortable about such boiling hot temperatures, and people stranded without water have little chance for survival.

It is by far the hottest of the North American deserts, but it is not the Sahara: The Sonoran Desert's denizens depend on the arrival of the summer monsoon rains as well as the winter storms from the Pacific, and its unique ecosystem thrives under these conditions. There are even a week's worth of freezing temperatures during the depths of the desert winter.

The banded Gila monster is probably the most recognizable inhabitant of the Sonoran. This pink, orange and red reptile may seem shy, but it will strike without notice if it feels threatened. It is only one of two poisonous species of lizards in the entire world and the effects of its bite are very painful. Fortunately, it is seldom seen by people even though it hunts during the day: we should be glad to leave it alone!

Other desert denizens include the Sonoran toad, jaunty Sonoran Pronghorn antelope, bobcat, Desert Bighorn sheep, and the ubiquitous coyote, among many others. The most common birds are the aptly named Cactus wren and Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, but other species thrive there as well.

Of course, the Sonoran Desert is most famous for its breathtaking array of cacti that bloom in the springtime and create a miraculous scene all year long. There are over a dozen commonly recognized varieties of cactus, of course, but the most readily recognizable is the stately Saguaro.

By far the tallest cactus, the stem of the cactus can measure up to 2 feet in diameter. Its rough surface eagerly sucks up any rainfall that comes its way and holds it within its ribs. Many animals and insects in the Sonoran Desert rely on the Saguaro as a source for food and water. This silent sentinel in the desert is so connected with its home state that it is the State Flower of Arizona.