The Anza Borrego Desert

The United States has many types of landscapes: beaches, forests, grasslands, and mountain ranges. Meanwhile, the southwest region of the U.S. is covered with large deserts that are home to a variety unique plants and animals. One of the most beautiful deserts in the U.S. is Anza Borrego in Southern California.

 

Anza Borrego is a huge “state park”, which is an area of wilderness protected by the state government. It is located a few hours south of Los Angeles and about one hour north of San Diego. It is an amazing place to visit if you are traveling on the West Coast of the U.S. The landscape of Anza Borrego looks like an alien planet. The desert is mostly flat and covered with large and small gray rocks, but in the background are dramatic purple mountains and a big blue sky. And of course, there thousands of green and pink cactus trees, including the famous Elephant Cactus that can grow up to twenty feet tall and has dozens of “arms” that extend in every direction. There is also an oasis of palm trees where you can relax in the shade and a waterfall where you can go swimming. In Anza Borrego you can also see animals that are unique to this area of the U.S., such as the big-horn sheep and the roadrunner.

Because Anza Borrego is a state park, it is very easy for tourists to visit. The park is located near several highways and entry is free. The trails are easy to follow and, if you want to see the nighttime stars, you can camp anywhere in the park. So when you hear the word “desert”, don’t think of an empty wasteland. Anza Borrego shows that a desert can be a vibrant and exciting place to spend some time.