John Cletheroe's
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Chihuahuan Desert, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas

Location and Size

The Chihuahuan ("chi-wa-wan") Desert is North America's largest desert but it lies mostly in Mexico, running north-south through the middle part of that country. However, the Chihuahuan Desert also extends northwards a short way into the USA, in extreme southeastern Arizona, central southern New Mexico (roughly from Las Cruces to Truth or Consequences) and parts of west Texas relatively close to the Rio Grande, including large parts of Big Bend National Park and the area around Del Rio.

The Chihuahuan Desert is approximately bordered on the west by US191 in Arizona, on the north by I-40 and according to one source to the east by US385, although I would have thought that US83 might have been a better choice.

The Chihuahuan Desert covers a total area of approximately 200,000 square miles in the USA and Mexico. For comparison, the area of England is 50,356 square miles.

Description

The Chihuahuan is mainly a shrub desert. Yuccas and creosote bushes are common, as are prickly-pear cacti.
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Most recently modified 4-Mar-99