North American deserts are home to a wide variety of plants, animals, and people. They include the sunny yellow brittlebush, the stark saguaro, the speedy roadrunner, and the plodding tortoise. People’s homes range from Native American reservations to crowded cities. However, the camels, ergs, and nomadic people of the Sahara are not found in these deserts.
Native Americans were the first to dwell here. Rock paintings, carvings, and other remains show us their advanced civilization, thousands of years before Spanish explorers arrived. Since that time, people who traveled from the East sometimes settled in the desert, lured by its great mineral wealth.
Put on some sturdy footwear and take a trip through this fascinating land. The cities can take hours to explore, and the desert is rocky, with some areas full of spiny plants. Take along a raincoat and a heavy sweater, because rains are unpredictable, and nights can be cold. Of course, don’t forget a hat and sunscreen. And finally, like the Native Americans who live in the desert, respect the desert animals, plants, and land.
