Saguaro National Park in Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

World of the Wash

Saguaro National Park

Photographed By Don Morfe, October 3, 2007

1. World of the Wash Marker

Inscription. Below is the dry bed of an intermittent stream called a desert wash. For a short time, during desert thunderstorms, flash floods rush down the mountain slopes and through desert washes to nearby rivers.

However, beneath the wash’s sandy surface, some moisture remains throughout the year. Non-succulent plants such as palo verde, ragweed, and ironwood thrive along the wash edges because of the underground water supply. Other small plants-ferns and mosses-cling to some shaded embankments.

Walk down the stairs to explore this desert wash. Look for tracks and other signs that deer, tortoises, pack rats, rabbits, lizards, and other animals travel along his sand-filled corridor.

(Inscription beside the photo on the right)
Rainfall running off a mountain slope (right) can quickly fill desert washes. Beware of desert thunderstorms: Flash floods can occur suddenly.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment.

Location. 32° 15.258′ N, 111° 11.874′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in Saguaro National Park. Marker is on North Kinney Road. The marker is located at the visitor

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center garden in the Tucson Monument District. The garden is located on the left side of the visitor center between the parking lot and wash. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson AZ 85743, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Desert Life (a few steps from this marker); Seed to Sentinel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tucson Plant Materials Center (approx. 11.4 miles away); Desert Laboratory (approx. 11.6 miles away); Mission San Xavier del Bac (approx. 15.1 miles away); a different marker also named Mission San Xavier del Bac (approx. 15.1 miles away); The Grotto at San Xavier del Bac (approx. 15.1 miles away).

World of the Wash image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, October 3, 2007

2. World of the Wash

Photographed By Don Morfe, October 3, 2007

3. World of the Wash

Sign at the entrance to Saguaro National Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, October 3, 2007

4. Sign at the entrance to Saguaro National Park

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 391 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 11, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.