Chihuahuan Desert

desert · North America · hot desert · ecosystem

Spans two countries. The Chihuahuan Desert covers parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, including much of Far West Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona. Its biggest portion sits in Mexico, mostly in the state of Chihuahua.

Massive in size. With an area of about 501,896 square kilometers (193,783 square miles), it is the largest hot desert in all of North America. That's bigger than the entire state of California.

A young desert. The Chihuahuan Desert has only existed for about 8,000 years, making it fairly new compared to other deserts on Earth. It's still shaping itself and changing over time.

Bordered by giants. To the west, the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Sonoran Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the massive Sierra Madre mountain ranges. These geographical features help define and protect this unique landscape.