Anza-Borrego
Coordinates: 33 ° 6 ′ N , 116 ° 18 ′ W
Anza-Borrego is the name of a desert in the US state of California . An area of about 2,428 square kilometers is designated as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and is therefore subject to a certain nature protection, which, however, does not come close to the level of the US national parks . The Anza-Borrego is generally considered part of the Sonoran Desert .
location
The Anza-Borrego is mostly in San Diego County (Southern California), a small part in the north belongs to Riverside County . The western border runs along the Cleveland National Forest , and in the southwest the border runs along the Cuyamaca Mountains and Jacumba Mountains . In the south the desert extends to the border of Mexico , in the east the state park is bounded by the administrative border with Imperial County . To the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains form a natural boundary.
The name Anza-Borrego is derived from the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista De Anza and the American bighorn sheep called Borrego .
The small town of Borrego Springs is completely enclosed by the state park and offers the most important tourist facilities. The park's visitor center is just outside the city. In the eastern part of the desert is the Ocotillo Wells Special Vehicle Recreation Area , an area cleared for all-terrain vehicles.
There are few paved roads in the state park. Off the main routes, an off-road vehicle is essential. Wild camping is permitted away from waterholes. However, there are also simple campsites in the park.
Flora and fauna
The wildflower blooms between January and May. The exact timing is different every year and depends on a variety of factors, including rainfall, temperatures, and wind.
- Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) - a tall plant with showy red flowers
- Cholla (Cylindropuntia) - a species of cactus with very dense spines.
- Smoke Tree (Psorothamnus spinosus) - a type of bush that partially reaches tree height.
- Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) - the most common type of bush with small, oily leaves, yellow flowers and small, white seed balls. This type of bush can survive for two years without rain. More than 60 insect species are dependent on this type of bush.
- Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) - The population of this animal is threatened by man-made destruction of its habitat, but also by pumas .
- Californian donkey hare (Lepus californicus)
- Cottontail
- Road Cuckoo / Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) - This famous bird can run at speeds of up to 17 mph but can only fly for a short time. It feeds on insects, scorpions, lizards and mice.
In addition, the Anza-Borrego is a habitat for over 50 lizard and snake species .
history
The Anza-Borrego was settled 6000 years ago. Very little is known about early humans.
The first Spaniards came to the desert from 1772. At that time the land belonged to the Yuma -speaking Kumeyaay and Shoshonisch -speaking Cahuilla - Indians .
According to archaeologists, the Kumeyaay, coming from Colorado , settled in what is now Imperial and San Diego Counties about 2000–1200 years ago. The Cahuilla migrated from the Great Basin to what is now Riverside County over the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains in the Borrego Valley about 1500–1000 years ago .
Kumeyaay and Cahuilla were semi-nomads who spent the winter in the lowlands of the desert and migrated to the higher areas such as the Laguna or Santa Rosa Mountains from spring to autumn .
From 1875, white farmers tried to colonize the land. But it wasn't until 1926 that the first successful well was built . Paved roads have only existed since World War II . Prisoners were used to build roads.
Since the end of the 1920s, attempts have been made to declare as large an area as possible a state park. In 1932 a compromise was found. Various organizations have since increased the area of the state park through acquisitions.
climate
The Anza-Borrego is one of the hottest and driest areas in the USA. Occasional rains are caused by foothills from Pacific storms. In the winter months, temperatures can drop below freezing at night.
Average temperatures and rainfall
| month | Maximum temperature in ° C | Lowest temperature in ° C | Precipitation in mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21st | 6th | 31 |
| February | 23 | 8th | 29 |
| March | 25th | 10 | 20th |
| April | 29 | 12 | 6th |
| May | 34 | 16 | 2 |
| June | 39 | 20th | 0.3 |
| July | 42 | 24 | 8.4 |
| August | 41 | 24 | 15th |
| September | 38 | 22nd | 11 |
| October | 32 | 16 | 6th |
| November | 25th | 16 | 14th |
| December | 21st | 6th | 19th |
