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Arizona’s
Sky
Islands
By Jim Tobin PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM TOBIN
In Southern Arizona you’ll find several The Cathedrals of Cave Creek Canyon.
mountain groups separated by vast
swaths of parched desert. Home to not southern Arizona. Spared from the presence of modern man. The native
some of the most diverse ecosystems on the freeze, much of the ancient flora and Indians who lived here for 15,000 years
planet, these unique ranges are known as fauna remains in the cooler altitudes of never developed mass agriculture or the
the Madrean Sky Islands. Less than 100 the mountains from that era. population densities of modern man that
miles from Mexico, these mountains vary has overwhelmed other ecosystems. In
from a few thousand feet to almost 10,000 The second reason that the Madrean fact, these mountains were home to the
feet above the desert plains, encompassing Sky Islands remain so well preserved fearsome Apache. Geronimo used these
all nine of the U.S. climate zones from is that they have not had to endure the rugged mountains to raid and harass
subtropical to alpine. If you’re looking to the Europeans. It’s a tribute to both
pack as much natural variety as possible Geronimo’s tenacity and to the harsh
into one single trip, these “islands” may nature of these mountains that he was
very well be your perfect destination! able to evade the U.S. military for almost
There are other sky island groups around a quarter of a century.
the world, but two factors have preserved
the biome in Arizona better than the The Madrean Sky Islands consist of 22
others: First, when the last ice age ended different mountain groups. Mountain
around 10,000 years ago, it covered peaks and canyons within these groups
much of Europe and North America but provide habitats for over 400 species of
birds, 22 species of bats, over 100 species
Sunset at Madera Canyon. of butterflies in addition to numerous
rare and endemic reptiles, mammals
88 | SUNRAYS APRIL 2017 and plants.
The Chiricahua Mountains are the largest
and most diverse of the sky island groups.
The easiest access to the biodiversity of the
Chiricahuas is through the city of Portal,
Arizona. Cave Creek Canyon is one of only
a few privately owned parts of the park
and is a perfect base camp for hiking,
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