Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona
Native American pueblos
According to Anycountyprivateschools, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located in the state of Arizona – USA – and is about a two-hour drive from the city of Phoenix. The center of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument are about 800 year old settlement ruins of the Hohokam people of the “Native Americans”.
Casa Grande – Hohokam Pueblo in Arizona with Schutzdach
The area of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is about 2 km². About 100,000 tourists visit the National Monument in Arizona every year. The settlement remains of the Hohokam people were placed under protection in 1892; in 1918 the Casa Grande Ruins were finally designated as a National Monument.
Buildings of Native American Pueblo culture
At the end of the 17th century the first “whites” came to the area of today’s National Monument. They were Spanish missionaries. At that time “Casa Grande” was already deserted and deserted. The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument encloses a number of ruined buildings that were once built in the typical Pueblo style. The best preserved of the buildings is the Casa Grande – building, the “Big House”. The protective roof that was erected over the Casa Grande building is striking. It is intended to protect the valuable building from the damaging effects of the weather.
Archaeological Site – Casa Grande Ruins – Main Building
American Indian Music Festival
The almost regular “American Indian Music Festival” at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is new. The “Indian” culture is shown and brought closer there. Accompanied by “Native American” musical instruments, “Native American” dances are presented. Likewise, handicrafts of bygone days of the “Native Americans” are shown. The food is prepared and served in the traditional manner.
Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona
semi-deserts and stone worlds
The Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona – USA – protects an almost desert-like landscape, which is striking for its rock formations, which are peculiar to human eyes. The Chiricahua National Monument is located in southeastern Arizona and is located at the transition from the Chiricahua Desert to the Sonoran Desert. The border with Mexico is very close.
“Hoodoos” – rock formations in Chiricahua National Monument
The interesting rocky landscape was created by volcanic eruptions, weathering and shifting of the tectonic plates (plate tectonics). The closest town to Chiricahua National Monument is Wilcox. The region is referred to as the Wonderland of Rocks.
The size of the protected area is about 48 km². The National Monument was set up in 1924. The human eye recognized the shapes of animals and objects in the rocks; therefore some rock formations have very strange names.
Chiricahua National Monument – Wonderland of Rocks
Ideally suited for hiking
Numerous hiking trails lead through the Chiricahua National Monument area. Chiricahua National Monument is a wonderful place for recreation and relaxation.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
Organ Pipes – Column Cacti
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is located in southern Arizona on the Mexico border, within the Sonoran Desert. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was designated in 1937 and covers over 1,330 km². The name of the sanctuary comes from the organ pipe cacti that grow there, which are only found in this region of the USA, in Arizona.
Organ pipe cactus in the Arizona semi-desert
The organ pipe cactus is easy to distinguish from the saguaro cactus. The Organ Pipe Cactus grows visibly without a central trunk, but in the form of a shrub with mostly numerous “organ pipes” towards the sky. The organ pipe cactus can reach heights of up to eight meters. The red fruits of the Organ Pipe Cactus are edible and also used medicinally. The cactus itself is used as a sealing material in small boat construction.
Climate is ideal for cacti
In addition to the organ pipe cactus, the saguaro cactus and many other cactus species grow in the sanctuary. Otherwise, only low shrubs thrive in the Sonoran Desert. Since the days in summer can be unbearably hot, the protected area is home to a predominantly nocturnal animal world. The limiting elements on the region’s horizon are the Ajo Mountains and the Puerto Blanco Mountains.
In front left an Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi), in the back a Saguaro
Camping and outdoor activities
There is a campsite in the cactus area. There are also four smaller campgrounds in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument area. The roads in the protected area are in an unpaved condition. Hiking through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is possible. It is essential to pay attention to water supplies.
