Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Location: Arizona, USA
Nearest city: Ajo, AZ
Coordinates: 32°02′40″N, 112°51′28″W
Area: 330,688 (1,338 km²)
Established: April 13, 1937
Visitation: 183,739 (in 2004)
Governing body: National Park Service

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the United States where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild. Along with Organ Pipe, many other types of cacti, as well as other desert flora native to the Sonoran Desert grow here. The Park is a beautiful preservation of the American Southwest.

Its position on the Mexican border, unfortunately, has led to much criminal activity involving illegal immigrants and drug traffic within the park. On August 9, 2002, ranger Kris Eggle was shot and killed by a suspected Mexican drug smuggler during a US Border Patrol operation. The visitor center has been named in his honor.

At the north entrance of the park is the city of Why, Arizona; the city of Lukeville, Arizona sits at the park's southern border. Lukeville is a border crossing point to Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico.

[edit] Pictures

An organ pipe cactus in the monument
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An organ pipe cactus in the monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
The monument is also home to many saguaro cacti.
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The monument is also home to many saguaro cacti.
The monument also contains a pair of arches
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The monument also contains a pair of arches


[edit] External links

State Parks of Arizona
Northern Region
Dead Horse Ranch • Fool Hollow Lake • Fort Verde • Homolovi Ruins • Jerome • Lyman Lake • Red Rock • Riordan Mansion • Slide Rock • Tonto Natural Bridge
Southern Region
Boyce Thompson ArboretumCatalinaKartchner Caverns • Lost Dutchman • McFarland • Oracle • Patagonia LakePicacho Peak • Roper Lake • Sonoita Creek Natural Area • Tombstone Courthouse • Tubac Presidio
Western Region
Alamo LakeBuckskin Mountain • Cattail Cove • Lake Havasu • Yuma Crossing • Yuma Territorial Prison
National Parks within Arizona
Grand CanyonPetrified ForestSaguaro
National Monuments
Canyon de ChellyCasa Grande RuinsChiricahuaGrand Canyon-ParashantHohokam PimaMontezuma CastleNavajoOrgan Pipe CactusPipe SpringRainbow BridgeSunset Crater VolcanoTontoTuzigootWalnut CanyonWupatki
Municipal parks
South Mountain ParkPapago Park
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