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Sonoran Desert, Arizona

Saguaro forests on the bajadas around Tucson, monsoon lightning over the Santa Catalinas, and the sunsets the desert is known for.

A saguaro grows its first arm at around 50 to 70 years old and can live past 150.

A vivid orange and red sunset blazes behind layered desert mountains, with saguaro cacti silhouetted in the foreground.
Fiery orange sunset over saguaro cacti and desert mountains, TucsonLicensePrint
A rocky desert canyon lined with saguaro cacti opens onto a sandy streambed, layered hillsides receding under a partly cloudy sky.
Rocky desert canyon with saguaro cacti and dry streambedLicense
A single tall saguaro cactus stands prominently on a scrubby desert hillside as evening light fades, its arms and spines outlined in warm dusk tones.
Tall saguaro cactus silhouetted against a desert hillside at duskLicense
A towering monsoon thunderhead glows orange and gold at sunset above a silhouetted desert mountain ridge dotted with saguaro cacti.
Glowing monsoon storm cloud over a silhouetted desert mountain ridgeLicense
A tall saguaro cactus with a weathered trunk and bird nesting cavity stands among desert scrub in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona.
Weathered saguaro cactus with nesting cavity, Sonoran DesertLicense
Two saguaro cactus arms rise in silhouette against a warm sunset sky over the Sonoran Desert, Arizona.
Saguaro cactus arms silhouetted against sunset sky, ArizonaLicensePrint
A saguaro cactus with two upright arms stands against a hazy desert horizon in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona.
Saguaro cactus twin arms in desert scrubland, ArizonaLicense
Long exposure captures a starry night sky and streaking vehicle light trails along a desert road in Arizona.
Star-filled night sky over a desert road with light trails, ArizonaLicense
A dense field of stars fills the night sky above a silhouetted mountain ridge in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona.
Starry night sky over desert mountain silhouette, ArizonaLicense
A bird perches atop a tall saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert with mountains rising in the background.
Bird perched on saguaro cactus in Sonoran Desert landscapeLicense
A field of tall saguaro cacti stretches across the Sonoran Desert with layered mountain ranges in the distance.
Saguaro cactus field with mountain range in Sonoran DesertLicense
A hawk soars through the sky above saguaro cacti and rugged desert mountains in the Sonoran Desert.
Hawk soaring over saguaro cacti and desert mountainsLicense
A tiered waterfall drops through a rocky Sonoran Desert canyon lined with saguaro cacti beneath a deep blue sky.
Waterfall cascading through a saguaro-studded desert canyonLicense
Water cascades over layered rock into a still pool at the base of a Sonoran Desert waterfall.
Close view of a waterfall pouring into a rock poolLicense
A slope of fire-scarred pine trees frames a hazy view of a desert valley city from a high mountain overlook.
Mountain overlook with burned pine forest above a desert cityLicense
A stacked stone cairn balances atop a charred tree stump against a backdrop of tall pines and blue sky.
Balanced rock cairn on a burned tree stump in a pine forestLicense