Saguaro National Park

From Freepedia

Saguaro
Image:LocMap Saguaro.PNG
Designation	National Park
Location	Arizona, USA
Nearest City	Tucson, Arizona
Coordinates	32°15′ N 110°30′ W
Area	91,440 acres (370 km²) 37,000 ha
Date of Establishment	January 1, 1933
Visitation	637,888 (2002)
Governing Body	National Park Service
IUCN category	II National Park

Saguaro National Park, located in the state of Arizona, is part of the United States system of national parks.

Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections, lying approximately 20 miles east and 15 miles west of the centre of the city of Tucson, Arizona. Total area in 2002 was 143 square miles (370 km²) of which 111 mi² (289 km²) is designated wilderness. There is a visitor center in each section. Both are easily reached by car from Tucson, but there is no public transport into either section. Both sections conserve fine tracts of the Sonoran Desert, including ranges of significant hills, the Tucson Mountains in the west and the Rincon Mountains in the east. The park gets its name from the saguaro cactus which is native to the region. Many other kinds of cactus, including barrel cactus, cholla cactus, and prickly pear, are also abundant in the park. Three endangered species of animals live in the park: the Mexican Spotted Owl, Peregrine Falcon, and Lesser Long-nosed Bat.

The park was established as Saguaro National Monument on March 1, 1933 and changed to a national park on October 14, 1994.

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Facilities in the park include 150 miles (240 km) of well marked and maintained hiking trails, and shorter walking trails with interpretative information available. Hiking is not advisable during the hot summer months.