The Sonoran Desert covers approximately 100,000 square miles (260,000 sq. km.) It includes most of the southern half of Arizona, parts of southeastern California, Baja California, including the gulf islands, and most of the state of Sonora, Mexico.
Due to seasonal rains the Sonoran Desert is lush in comparison to many othes.
Many plants distinguish the Sonoran Desert from the others. Legume trees and columnar cacti being the most prominent. There is a wide range of over 2,000 species of plants.
The amount and seasonality of rainfall are defining characteristics of the Sonoran Desert. Much of the area has a biseasonal rainfall pattern, though even during the rainy seasons most days are sunny.
From December to March storms from North Pacific Ocean occasionally bring widespread, gentle rain to the northwestern areas. From July to mid-September, the summer monsoon brings surges of wet tropical air and frequent but localized violent thunderstorms.
The Sonoran Desert differs from the other three North American Deserts in having mild winters; most of the area rarely experiences frost. About half of the plantlife is tropical in origin, with life cycles attuned to the brief summer rainy season. The winter rains, when ample, produce huge populations of annuals (which comprise half of the species in our flora).
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