Jeff Goulden Southwest Usa Pictures, Images and Stock Photos

White Sands National Park covers 145,762 acres in the Tularosa Basin of the American Southwest. The white dunes, largest of their kind on earth, are made up of gypsum sand dissolved from the surrounding mountains and carried into the basin almost 12,000 years ago. In 1933 President Herbert Hoover designated the area as a national monument. It became a national park in 2019. The yucca plant and sand dunes were photographed from the Sunset Stroll area in White Sands National Park near Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA.

This young woman and her dog are hiking on Humphreys Peak in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

A thousand or more years ago, natives inhabited the lower elevations around the San Francisco Peaks of Northern Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops, hunted game and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape along with other artifacts such as this obsidian projectile point from the Sinaguan era; about 500AD to 1450AD. Although commonly called an arrowhead, the point was probably not attached to an arrow or shot from a bow, a weapon not thought to be used by the Sinagua. More likely it was affixed to the tip of a spear and thrown to strike and kill game animals. It is unlawful to remove artifacts, such as this point, from a native site. They may be examined but must be returned to their original location. This projectile point was photographed at Sandy Seep in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The USA-Mexico Border Fence separates people in Naco, Arizona, USA from their neighbors and family in Naco, Sonora, Mexico.

Keyhole Sink is a canyon known for its petroglyphs, which were created between 700 and 1100CE by the ancient Cohonina people. It is also known for the seasonal waterfall that flows into the canyon. Keyhole Sink is located in the Kaibab National Forest near Williams, Arizona, USA.

Sixty million years ago the west side of Bright Angel Fault was lifted higher than the east side, creating the canyon that we now see. The exposed walls of Bright Angel Canyon allow us to see the geological history of the area. Tropical seas, coastal beaches, sand dunes, swamps, lagoons, and Sahara-like deserts are represented by the horizontal layers that are exposed. The upper five layers of stacked rock records 70 million years of rising and falling sea levels. The limestone layers represent shallow sea environments, sandstone layers mean sandy beaches or dunes, while shale layers translate to mud flats, swamps, or coastal plains. This picture of Bright Angel Canyon was taken at sunrise from Bright Angel Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.

Sitgreaves Pass, at 3586 feet above sea level, is where the historic Beale's Wagon Road crossed the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona, USA. When Edward Fitzgerald Beale built his wagon road over the pass, he named it John Howells Pass for one of the men in his expedition of October, 1857. Subsequently, the pass was named for Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves who led the 1851 Expedition Down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers. Years later the pass was used for the famous Route 66 between Los Angeles and Chicago. The narrow two lane highway is still in use today. In the early spring, the area around Sitgreaves Pass is dominated by wild California Poppies which fill the meadows with a dense carpet of orange.

Cirrus clouds appear in a blue sky over Rogers Lake near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The San Francisco Peaks are the remnants of an ancient volcano that erupted millions of years ago, shattering a large mountain and leaving a large crater and surrounding peaks. The tallest of these are Humphreys at 12,637 feet and Agassiz at 12,356 feet. This picture of the snow-capped peaks reflected in a pond was taken from Kachina Wetlands in Kachina Village, Arizona, USA.

Monument Valley is on the Arizona/Utah border near Oljato, Utah, USA. The valley with its strange sandstone formations is the epitome of the Old West. This iconic view was taken at sunset, capturing the other-worldly glow on the red rock.

In July of 2019 the Museum Fire of Northern Arizona burned 1,961 acres of Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest. This was caused by a forest-thinning project which was originally undertaken to help prevent devastating wildfires. The fire was started from a piece of heavy equipment striking a rock and sparking the blaze. Nearby neighborhoods were forced to evacuate. According to the National Forest Service, the fire cost $9 million before it was brought under control. This section of burned trees was photographed from the Sunset Trail in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) is a North American species of lizard in the family Crotaphytidae. It is distinguished by its oversized head, colorful body and bands of black around the neck and shoulders. The black bands give it the name “collared”. It is also known as Eastern Collared Lizard, Oklahoma Collared Lizard, Yellow-Headed Lizard and Collared Lizard. The collared lizard can grow to 8-15 inches in length including the tail. They have a large head and powerful jaws. The adult males with their blue green bodies are generally more colorful than the females. The collared lizard is mostly found in the arid, open landscapes of Mexico and south-central United States. They are carnivores, feeding on insects and small vertebrates. Occasionally they may eat plant material. This collared lizard was photographed while basking on warm rocks in Homolovi State Park near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

A dirt road leads toward Merrick Butte at Monument Valley Tribal Park in Arizona, USA.

After the Summer Monsoon rains, wildflowers bloom in fields and forests all over Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA - May 17, 2011: The American flag flies in front of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at Mather Point.

The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) gets its name from the way the leaves quake in the wind. The aspens grow in large colonies, often starting from a single seedling and spreading underground only to sprout another tree nearby. For this reason, it is considered to be one of the largest single organisms in nature. During the spring and summer, the aspens use sunlight and chlorophyll to create food necessary for the tree’s growth. In the fall, as the days get shorter and colder, the naturally green chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves stop producing food. Other pigments are now visible, causing the leaves to take on beautiful orange and gold colors. These colors can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. For instance, when autumn is warm and rainy, the leaves are less colorful. This fall scene of gold colored aspens was photographed by the Inner Basin Trail in Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), with its distinctive orange throat and blue eyes, is a seabird whose habitat includes rivers and lakes as well as in coastal areas. It is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. This male cormorant was photographed standing with his wings spread on the bank of Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) may be the most familiar North American butterfly. They range from southern Canada to South America. Adults make massive migrations from August to October, flying thousands of miles south to hibernate along the California coast and Central Mexico. Their favorite nectar sources include the Asters, Coneflowers and Milkweeds. This butterfly was photographed while perched on a Purple Coneflower in the Flagstaff, Arizona, USA arboretum.

Badlands are a particular type of rock formation found in arid regions around the world. These formations require poorly consolidated rock and infrequent but torrential rain. The soft rock allows large quantities of water to channel down gullies, carrying away sediment. Bentonite clay within these formations can swell up with moisture. As the clay dries it shrinks and cracks, creating a surface resembling the skin of an elephant. Beneath the surface, an intricate maze of natural pipes and spaces form within the badlands. This hidden plumbing appears on the face of the badlands as dimples, sinks, slumps and seeps. As erosion continues, new features including caves and natural bridges can form. Badlands often take on varied colors giving the formations a banded appearance. These colorful badland formations were at Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck that lives in rivers, lakes and saltwater in the forested areas of Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America. It has a serrated bill that helps it grip its prey which are mostly fish. In addition, it eats mollusks, crustaceans, worms and larvae. The common merganser builds its nest in tree cavities. The species is a permanent resident where the waters remain open in winter and migrates away from areas where the water freezes. This female common merganser in non-breeding plumage was photographed while standing on the bank of Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird common near open water and wetlands in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. It is the largest of the heron family native to North America. Blue herons are distinguished by slate-blue colored flight feathers, long legs and a long neck which is curved in flight. The face and head are white with black stripes. The long-pointed bill is a dull yellow. The great blue heron is found throughout most of North America from Alaska through Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. East of the Rocky Mountains herons are migratory and winter in the coastal areas of the Southern United States, Central America, or northern South America. Great blue herons thrive in almost any wetland habitat and rarely venture far from the water. The blue heron spends most of its waking hours hunting for food. The primary food in their diet is small fish. It is also known to feed opportunistically on other small prey such as shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Herons hunt for their food and locate it by sight. Their long legs allow them to feed in deeper waters than other waders are able to. The common hunting technique is to wade slowly through the water and spear their prey with their long, sharp bill. They usually swallow their catch whole. The great blue heron breeds in colonies called rookeries, located close to lakes and wetlands. They build their large nests high up in the trees. This heron was photographed while hunting by Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a common bird, found in most parts of the world. Females and young birds are colored pale brown and grey, and males have bright black, white, and brown markings. The house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. It has been introduced to many parts of the world, including Australia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the most widely distributed wild bird. This male was photographed while perched on a saguaro cactus in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

The Santa Catalina Mountains formed about 20 million years ago when tremendous heat and pressure from volcanoes caused this flat land to buckle and arch. This photograph of Sutherland Wash and the Santa Catalina Mountains was taken at sunset in Catalina State Park near Oro Valley, Arizona, USA.

Cottonwood trees turn color in the Autumn along the San Pedro River. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is near Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA.

The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) gets its name from the way the leaves quake in the wind. The aspens grow in large colonies, often starting from a single seedling and spreading underground only to sprout another tree nearby. For this reason, it is considered to be one of the largest single organisms in nature. During the spring and summer, the aspens use sunlight and chlorophyll to create food necessary for the tree’s growth. In the fall, as the days get shorter and colder, the naturally green chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves stop producing food. Other pigments are now visible, causing the leaves to take on beautiful orange and gold colors. These colors can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. For instance, when autumn is warm and rainy, the leaves are less colorful. This woman hiker was walking through a fall scene of gold colored aspens on the Arizona Trail at Bismarck Lake in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) is a rabbit native to the American southwest from western Texas north to eastern Montana, and in northern and central Mexico. The cottontail gets its name from the grayish-brown tufted tail. The desert cottontail’s diet consists mainly of forbs and grasses. It can also eat many other plants including cacti. They can be seen foraging for their food in the early morning and evening. Since they get most of their water from plants or dew, they rarely need to drink. On windy days they remain in their burrows because the wind interferes with their ability to hear predators. Cottontails use burrows created by other mammals to give birth to their young. This desert cottontail was photographed near Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) is a North American species of lizard in the family Crotaphytidae. It is distinguished by its oversized head, colorful body and bands of black around the neck and shoulders. The black bands give it the name “collared”. It is also known as Eastern Collared Lizard, Oklahoma Collared Lizard, Yellow-Headed Lizard and Collared Lizard. The collared lizard can grow to 8-15 inches in length including the tail. They have a large head and powerful jaws. The adult males with their blue green bodies are generally more colorful than the females. The collared lizard is mostly found in the arid, open landscapes of Mexico and south-central United States. They are carnivores, feeding on insects and small vertebrates. Occasionally they may eat plant material. This collared lizard was photographed while basking on warm rocks in Homolovi State Park near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

The cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) is the state bird of Arizona. This species of wren is native to the southwestern United States southwards to central Mexico. This wren was photographed perched on a saguaro cactus in the mountains near Tucson, Arizona, USA.

The majestic Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the national symbol of the United States. It is mostly found in the lowland areas near bodies of water. It feeds mostly on fish including spawned out salmon in rivers as well as water birds, geese, carrion and other prey. This eagle was photographed while perched in a dead tree on Campbell Mesa near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The historic Bell Trail was built in the rugged canyon of Wet Beaver Creek in 1932. Wet Beaver Creek is in Yavapai County near Camp Verde, Arizona, USA. Rancher Charles Bell needed the trail to move his cattle up and down the Mogollon Rim. Today, the Bell Trail is used mainly for recreational purposes. The "Crack" on Wet Beaver Creek is a fault in the sandstone that has become a popular hiking destination and swimming hole.

The Fremont’s Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is a poplar tree native to the American Southwest and south through central Mexico. The tree was named after John C. Fremont, the 19th century American explorer. The riparian tree grows near streams, rivers, springs and wetlands below 6,600 ft elevation. This scene of a Fremont Cottonwood with its fall foliage was photographed from the Kisva Trail by Oak Creek in Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona, USA.

The Arizona Meteor Crater (Barringer Meteorite Crater) formed 50,000 years ago when an asteroid plunged through the Earth’s atmosphere and crashed into what is now central Arizona. This area was not populated by humans at the time. Because of Arizona’s dry climate and the crater’s relatively young age, Meteor Crater is the best preserved impact crater on Earth. The small asteroid was just 150 feet across. Traveling at around 8 miles per second the force of the impact was tremendous. In just a few seconds the crater was formed when millions of tons of rock were thrown out. Today Meteor Crater is a famous tourist attraction with a museum featuring displays about the history of the crater. Scientist from all over the world come to Meteor Crater to study it. Meteor Crater is near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

The Redhead (Aythya americana), also known as a pochard, is a medium-sized diving duck. Their legs are farther back on the body, which makes it difficult to walk on land but they have larger webbing on their feet and a broader bill which makes them especially adapted to foraging underwater. During the breeding season, adult males have a copper head and a black breast. The back and sides are grey with a white belly and light black rump and tail. The male bill is pale blue with a black tip. The females are light brown with a white ring around the eye. Their bill is dark gray with a black tip. Redheads breed across a wide range of North America from Northern Canada to the Southern United States. In the winter they migrate south to warmer climates. Their favored habitat is wetlands in non-forested areas. In the winter the redheads prefer protected coastal areas. During the breeding season their diet includes gastropods, mollusks and larvae and occasionally grass and other vegetation. In the winter the redhead eats mainly plant material. This male redhead was photographed while swimming in John F. Kennedy Lake in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

This mountain bike was photographed in a meadow on Observatory Mesa. The San Francisco Peaks are in the background. Observatory Mesa is in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Oak Creek is a tributary of the Verde River in Northern Arizona. It is a perennial stream that originates below the Mogollon Rim of the Colorado Plateau. The headwaters of the creek are at the confluence of Sterling Springs and Pumphouse Wash. Oak Creek generally flows south, dropping 2500 feet in elevation, and joins the Verde River southeast of the town of Cottonwood. Along its watercourse, Oak Creek nurtures a lush riparian habitat through an otherwise arid environment. This scene of fall foliage along Oak Creek was photographed from the Kingfisher Bridge in Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona, USA.

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck that lives in rivers, lakes and saltwater in the forested areas of Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America. It has a serrated bill that helps it grip its prey which are mostly fish. In addition, it eats mollusks, crustaceans, worms and larvae. The common merganser builds its nest in tree cavities. The species is a permanent resident where the waters remain open in winter and migrates away from areas where the water freezes. This female common merganser in non-breeding plumage was photographed while swimming at Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Petrified wood is formed when dead trees are buried by layers of sediment. The logs soak up groundwater and silica from volcanic ash and over time are crystallized into quartz. Different minerals create the colors seen in the logs. These petrified logs are at the Rainbow Forest in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

The Rock Squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus) is fairly large ground squirrel but can also be seen climbing boulders, rocks and trees. It is typically 17-21 inches long, with a bushy tail up to 8 inches long. Rock squirrels are grayish-brown, with some patches of cinnamon color. They have a light-colored ring around their eyes and pointed ears that project well above their heads. In the northern reach of their habitat, rock squirrels hibernate during the colder months of the year. In southern areas, rock squirrels may not hibernate at all. The diet of the rock squirrel is predominantly herbivorous, consisting mostly of leaves, stems and seeds. They may also eat some insects and other small animals. Because of high human visitation, rock squirrels have become the most dangerous animals at the national parks of the American Southwest. Rock squirrels attack more tourists at the Grand Canyon than any other wild animal. Attacks have become so common that park rangers have begun warning tourists about the dangers. This rock squirrel was photographed at Yavapai Point in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.

Cirrus clouds appear in a blue sky over the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona, USA.

Seven Warriors is a long ridge with seven prominent peaks. This view of Seven Warriors was photographed from the Turkey Creek Trail in the Coconino National Forest near the Village of Oak Creek, Arizona, USA.

The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal native to interior western and central North America. Although it is commonly thought of and called an antelope it is not a true antelope. The pronghorn is the only surviving member of the Antilocapridae family and has been in North America for over a million years. The pronghorn has a similar body shape to a deer but stockier and shorter legged. Both males and females grow horns but the male horns are larger. The horns are shed each year as the new horns grow from underneath. The pronghorn weighs between 90 and 120 pounds and stands about 3 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder. It has a tan to reddish brown body with white markings throughout. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Its great speed enables the pronghorn to outrun most predators. Pronghorns are migratory herd animals. Their migration routes have been threatened by fencing and fragmentation of their habitat. Pronghorns cannot jump over traditional barb wire fences like deer and elk can. They try to pass underneath and sometimes get caught in the fencing. Newer types of fencing have plastic pipe under the bottom strands which allows the animals to pass through. Pronghorns are quite numerous and in some areas like Wyoming and northern Colorado the pronghorn population at times has exceeded the human population. This pronghorn was photographed at Bryce Point Turnoff in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA.

The Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is a medium-sized woodpecker living in the low scrubby areas of the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest. They range throughout southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Gila Woodpecker typically builds its nest in holes made in saguaro cactus or mesquite trees. This male woodpecker was photographed while clinging to a saguaro cactus in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

The Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is one of the iconic plants of the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona and Western Sonora, Mexico. These plants are large cacti that develop branches as they grow and mature. The branches generally bend upward but not always. The fluted trunks and branches of the saguaro are covered with protective spines. In the late spring the plant develops white flowers and red fruit forms in the summer. Saguaros are found only in the Sonoran Desert. To thrive they need water and the correct temperature. At higher elevations, the cold weather and frost can kill the saguaro. The Sonoran Desert experiences monsoon rains during July and August. This is when the saguaro obtains the moisture it needs to survive and thrive. These saguaro were found in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA.

The Tortugas Mountain Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by New Mexico State University. It was built in 1963 to observe the planets. Regular use of the observatory ceased around 1999 but the equipment was never dismantled. In 2010 efforts were made to reestablish the observatory. As of 2011 the work was still on-going. The observatory is located on Tortugas Mountain near Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.

Arizona doesn't have many natural ponds and lakes. To provide water for their livestock, early ranchers dug stock tanks in the national forest open range. Now that the national forests are used for recreation these old tanks provide ideal habitat for wildlife as well as popular destinations for hiking. An osprey nest is in the upper part of the picture. This unnamed tank has overflowed from the monoon rainfalls. It is located at the base of Campbell Mesa in Coconino National Forest, Arizona, USA.

The Northern Harrier or Marsh Hawk (Circus cyaneus) is a migratory bird of prey that breeds in the northern hemisphere and winters in the southernmost USA, Mexico and Central America. It hunts by swooping low and following the contours of the land. Its prey consists of mice, snakes, insects and small birds. This female was found in Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal, Arizona, USA.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the lower elevations around the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape along with their other artifacts. These petroglyphs were found on Magnetic Mesa in Wupatki National Monument near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Verde Valley (Spanish: Valle Verde or Green Valley) is a lush valley in central Arizona and one of a few riparian habitats in the state. The Verde River runs through the valley and is joined by Oak Creek, Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek. The Verde River is one of the state’s remaining free-flowing river systems and provides critical habitat for fish and wildlife. The valley is bounded by the Mogollon Rim to the north and Mingus Mountain to the south. The Verde Valley includes about 714 square miles in the center of Arizona and is about 100 miles north of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The valley is also noted for its many red rock formations. This fall colored scene of the Verde Valley, Mogollon Rim and Cathedral Rocks was photographed from the Eagle’s Nest Trail near Oak Creek in Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona, USA.

The Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) is a North American species of large crane. It also inhabits the northeastern part of Siberia. The name of this bird comes from a habitat like that of the Nebraska Sandhills on the American Plains. These sandhill cranes were photographed at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area where as many as 30,000 cranes spend the winter. The Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is near McNeal, Arizona, USA.

The Gunnison's Prairie Dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) is a rodent and member of the squirrel family. They are primarily distributed in the Four Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Their coats are light brown mixed with black-colored hairs. The top of the head, cheeks, and eyebrows are darker than the rest of the body. The tail is mostly white. The prairie dog’s eyes are on the sides of the head to give them wide peripheral vision to more easily spot predators. The Gunnison's prairie dog typically feeds during the day on grasses, herbs, and leaves. In the spring, they feed on newly grown shrubs. In the summer they mainly consume seeds. Prairie dog habitat includes meadows, grasslands, high desert and floodplains. They are often found in areas of rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and saltbrush. Gunnison's prairie dogs live in large colonies of up to several hundred. They are more active in the early morning and late afternoon especially during hot weather. When the temperatures are cooler, they become more active throughout the day. When it rains or snows, the prairie dog will spend its time underground. When they are above ground, they feed, make social contact, look out for predators, groom and dig their burrows. During the winter, the Gunnison's prairie dog hibernates for long periods of time without food or water, instead relying on stored fat and physiological adaptations to slow their metabolism. After hibernation, they become active from April through October. The Gunnison's prairie dog has a complex system of vocal communication. Their bark is a combination of high-pitched syllables to identify various predators. They also have different sounds for an "all-clear" signal. There may be up to 11 distinct warning calls used by the prairie dog. This Gunnison’s prairie dog was photographed in a prairie dog colony by Walnut Canyon Lakes in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Verde Valley (Spanish: Valle Verde or Green Valley) is a lush valley in central Arizona and one of a few riparian habitats in the state. The Verde River runs through the valley and is joined by Oak Creek, Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek. The Verde River is one of the state’s remaining free-flowing river systems and provides critical habitat for fish and wildlife. The valley is bounded by the Mogollon Rim to the north and Mingus Mountain to the south. The Verde Valley includes about 714 square miles in the center of Arizona and is about 100 miles north of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The valley is also noted for its many red rock formations. This fall colored scene of the Verde Valley, Mogollon Rim and Cathedral Rocks was photographed from the Eagle’s Nest Trail near Oak Creek in Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona, USA.

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA - August 13, 2017: An older couple is hiking in the Ponderosa Pine forest near Flagstaff.

Fisher Point is a large and beautifully colored formation of Coconino Sandstone at the western end of Walnut Canyon and the northern end of Sandy’s Canyon. Fisher Point is named for Ed Fisher, an early forest ranger. Fisher Point is located next to the Arizona Trail in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is one of the iconic plants of the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona and Western Sonora, Mexico. These plants are large cacti that develop branches as they grow and mature. The branches generally bend upward but not always. The fluted trunks and branches of the saguaro are covered with protective spines. In the late spring the plant develops white flowers and red fruit forms in the summer. Saguaros are found only in the Sonoran Desert. To thrive they need water and the correct temperature. At higher elevations, the cold weather and frost can kill the saguaro. The Sonoran Desert experiences monsoon rains during July and August. This is when the saguaro obtains the moisture it needs to survive and thrive. These saguaro cacti were found in Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA.

The Common Raven (Corvus corax), is a large black bird widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed of all corvids. The success of the common raven as a species is probably due to their omnivorous diet. They are very versatile and opportunistic in finding food. They will feed on dead animals, insects, grains, berries, fruit, small animals and human food waste. There is considerable evidence that the raven is unusually intelligent. They can solve problems, engage in play, make and use tools. They have been observed breaking off tree twigs and playing socially with them. Ravens can mimic sounds from their environment including other bird songs and even human speech. The raven looks like its cousin the crow except it is much larger, has a bigger and heavier beak and shaggy feathers around its throat. Common ravens can thrive in varied climates. This species has the largest range of any member of the genus. Their preferred habitat is wooded areas with open land nearby. The raven has a special place in Native American culture. Southwestern tribes like the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni consider the raven to be a bird of creation that brings sunlight to their people. This common raven was photographed on Campbell Mesa in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA - January 1, 2013: A young woman, standing in the snow, is photographing the Grand Canyon with a smart phone. This picture was taken from Yavapai Point in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.

Sitgreaves Pass, at 3586 feet above sea level, is where the historic Beale's Wagon Road crossed the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona, USA. When Edward Fitzgerald Beale built his wagon road over the pass, he named it John Howells Pass for one of the men in his expedition of October, 1857. Subsequently, the pass was named for Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves who led the 1851 Expedition Down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers. Years later the pass was used for the famous Route 66 between Los Angeles and Chicago. The narrow two lane highway is still in use today. In the early spring, the area around Sitgreaves Pass is dominated by wild California Poppies which fill the meadows with a dense carpet of orange.

A surveillance tower guards the USA-Mexico Border between Nogales, Arizona, USA and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.

The Arizona Meteor Crater (Barringer Meteorite Crater) formed 50,000 years ago when an asteroid plunged through the Earth’s atmosphere and crashed into what is now central Arizona. This area was not populated by humans at the time. Because of Arizona’s dry climate and the crater’s relatively young age, Meteor Crater is the best preserved impact crater on Earth. The small asteroid was just 150 feet across. Traveling at around 8 miles per second the force of the impact was tremendous. In just a few seconds the crater was formed when millions of tons of rock were thrown out. Today Meteor Crater is a famous tourist attraction with a museum featuring displays about the history of the crater. Scientist from all over the world come to Meteor Crater to study it. Meteor Crater is near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the second largest rodent in North America, after the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). The porcupine is distinguished by its coat of about 30,000 quills that covers all of its body except underbelly, face and feet. The quills are sharp, barbed and hollow hairs that are used primarily for defense and insulation. When used for defense, the quills can lodge in the flesh of a victim and are difficult and painful to remove. The porcupine’s summer diet includes twigs, roots, stems, berries, and other vegetation. In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. Porcupines are a slow-moving creature with poor distance vision. They are nocturnal, spending their days resting in trees. The porcupine does not hibernate in winter, preferring to stay close and sleep in their dens. This porcupine was photographed in the woods near Williams, Arizona, USA.