Southern Arizona in Focus

Moonrise over the desert, Organ Pipe National Monument. The rugged Ajo Mountains, with Montezuma's Head (left), form a dramatic backdrop for this desert scene. - Josef Muench Evening glow on the Southern Ari-zona desert. A saguaro, the monarch of this desert region, stands stoically against the end of another day. — Josef Muench A portrait of the desert — Evening Primrose. This handsome and early desert bloomer makes a brave show in the rippled sand dunes west of Yuma. — Josef Muench Baby screech owls communicate on a log in the Tucson area. Soon they will take to the wing-plying the skies over Southern Arizona in search of food. — Diane Ensign Following Panel - Perhaps the most severe desert region found in Southern Arizona is in the Yuma area. Here the Kofa Mountains rise majestically out of the desert floor. — Ray Manley

Colossal Cave east of Tucson is a labyrinth of caverns under the Rincon Mountains. Open year 'round, the cave offers visitors insight into nature's extremes and the legends of bandits hiding out from lawmen during the roaring 1800's. - Ray Manley Following Panel The Santa Catalina Mountains on the north edge of Tucson meet the desert in a seemingly confusing mixture of climate. The glow of sunset adds still another dimension to the light snow above. Ray Manley

Early morning haze hangs over the Tucson basin, as seen from Mt. Lemmon. Diane Ensign The bizarre and spectacular rock formations of the Chiricahua National Monument south of Willcox are a favorite with Arizonians. Much of the area is preserved for hiking and camping. - David Muench

The exhilaration of hang-gliding is combined with the early evening light over Tucson. - Garry Morris Left-A saguaro cactus stands defiantly against the rugged Kofa Mountains in Yuma County. - Ray Manley A summer thunderstorm dumps its fury on Tucson. - Josef Muench