What is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument famous for?
The sights and sounds of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, an International Biosphere Reserve, reveal a thriving community of plants and animals. Human stories echo throughout this desert preserve, chronicling thousands of years of desert living.
How old is the organ pipe cactus?
It arrived in the Sonoran Desert only about 3500 years ago. Organ Pipe Cactus can live to over 150 years in age, and will only produce their first flower near the age of 35.
Why is it called organ pipe cactus?
The organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi) is so named because of its multi-limbed grow habit which does resemble the pipes of the grand organs found in churches. You can only grow organ pipe cactus in warm to hot climates where there is room for a 26-foot (7.8 m.) tall plant.
When you visit the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument What kind of biome do you expect to see?
Sonoran Desert
The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona is full of life despite its arid, desolate appearing landscape. This part of the Sonoran Desert of home to a variety of animals including bats, the kangaroo rat, and the night-blooming cereus cactus. The desert biome covers about one-fifth of Earth’s surface.
Is organ pipe worth visiting?
In fact, the park’s unique habitat has earned it an international designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park is located along Highway 85 about 20 miles north of the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing. The Organ Pipe website notes that the national monument is a safe place to visit, with some precautions.
When did organ pipe cactus become a national park?
April 13, 1937
In 1976 the monument was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and in 1977 95% of Organ Pipe Cactus was declared a wilderness area….Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
| Organ Pipe Cactus National Monuments | |
|---|---|
| Created | April 13, 1937 |
| Visitors | 260,375 (in 2018) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument |
Where does organ pipe cactus live?
organ-pipe cactus, (Stenocereus thurberi), Spanish pitaya dulce, large species of cactus (family Cactaceae), native to Mexico and to southern Arizona in the United States. Organ-pipe cactus is characteristic of warmer rocky parts of the Sonoran Desert in Baja California, Sonora (Mexico), and southern Arizona.
Where is organ pipe cactus found?
Organ pipe cacti occur from southwestern Arizona south to Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California, Mexico.
Is Organ Pipe National Monument safe?
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a safe place to visit. However, illegal border crossings and activities, including drug smuggling, occur daily. It is unlikely that you will encounter any illegal border activity, but you should be aware that such a situation is possible.
How does the organ pipe cactus survive in the desert?
The organ pipe cactus stores water in its stems to survive the heat and drought of the desert. It has fibrous ribs running vertically up the stem to help keep it upright. When the cactus dies it leaves behind its bleached ribs. The flower buds of the organ pipe cactus grow from the tip of the stems.
Is Organ Pipe National Park Safe?
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a safe place to visit. However, illegal border crossings and activities, including drug smuggling, occur daily.
Where can I see Organ Pipe Cactus?
Distribution. This species is found mostly in Mexico, mainly in Sonora and southern Baja California and Northern Sinaloa. It is also known to the United States, but is much rarer, with the notable exception of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.