Arizona's Sonoran Desert: North America's Hottest Desert

Arizona is home to the Sonoran Desert, the hottest desert in North America, where summer temperatures routinely exceed 100°F (38°C). Spanning approximately 120,000 square miles (310,000 km²), the Sonoran extends across southern Arizona, southeastern California, and into Mexico. It is renowned for its iconic saguaro cacti, diverse flora and fauna — including Gila monsters, desert tortoises, and countless bird species — and two rainy seasons that support surprising biodiversity. Alabama, by contrast, has a humid subtropical climate with no desert regions. The Sonoran Desert's unique ecology and dramatic landscapes make it a defining feature of the American Southwest.