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Fun facts about Chihuahuan Desert

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Big Bend National Park PB112611
desert

The Chihuahuan Desert may be the most biologically diverse desert in the world as measured by species richness or endemism.

Chihuahuan Desert
USA/Mexico
Tap to learn more
desert

Chihuahuan Desert

USA/Mexico

Area
360,000 km²
Type
Hot
Countries
USA/Mexico
10th largest desert in the world

The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public Domain

Fact 1 permalink
Big Bend National Park PB112611
desert

The desert is mainly a rain shadow desert due to the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental blocking moisture.

Chihuahuan Desert
USA/Mexico
Tap to learn more
desert

Chihuahuan Desert

USA/Mexico

Area
360,000 km²
Type
Hot
Countries
USA/Mexico
10th largest desert in the world

The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

From the “Climate” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public Domain

Fact 2 permalink
Big Bend National Park PB112611
desert

The creosote bush is the dominant plant species in valley areas of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Chihuahuan Desert
USA/Mexico
Tap to learn more
desert

Chihuahuan Desert

USA/Mexico

Area
360,000 km²
Type
Hot
Countries
USA/Mexico
10th largest desert in the world

The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

From the “Flora” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public Domain

Fact 3 permalink
Big Bend National Park PB112611
desert

Desert grasslands comprise 20% of the Chihuahuan Desert and are often mosaics of shrubs and grasses.

Chihuahuan Desert
USA/Mexico
Tap to learn more
desert

Chihuahuan Desert

USA/Mexico

Area
360,000 km²
Type
Hot
Countries
USA/Mexico
10th largest desert in the world

The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

From the “Flora” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public Domain

Fact 4 permalink
Big Bend National Park PB112611
desert

A 2017 assessment found that 7% of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion is in protected areas.

Chihuahuan Desert
USA/Mexico
Tap to learn more
desert

Chihuahuan Desert

USA/Mexico

Area
360,000 km²
Type
Hot
Countries
USA/Mexico
10th largest desert in the world

The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

From the “Protected areas” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public Domain

Fact 5 permalink