Montezuma Castle National Monument - Nature and Science



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Montezuma Castle National Monument - Nature and Science Home > Montezuma Castle > Park Info > Nature and Science Montezuma Castle Skip Larson Montezuma Castle National Monument encompasses 826 acres and lies in the Verde Valley of Central Arizona at the junction of the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range physiographic provinces. Although the climate is arid with less than 12 inches of rainfall annually, several perennial streams thread their way from upland headwaters to the Verde Valley below, creating lush riparian ribbons of green against an otherwise parched landscape of rolling, juniper-dotted hills. From the mineral-rich Black Hills to the south, to the red and white sandstone country of Sedona and the basalt-capped palisades of the Mogollon Rim to the north, to the limestone hills of the Verde Valley, the dynamic nature of the Earth"s geologic processes is evident in the landforms surrounding the monument. The monument contains numerous species of plants such as mesquite, catclaw, and saltbush, which have adapted to life in an arid environment, but, due to the micro-habitats provided by the riparian corridors, also hosts populations of moisture-loving plants such as monkeyflower and columbine. The tall, large-leaved mesic species of trees such as sycamore and cottonwood, found only in the riparian corridors, stand in stark contrast to the xeric species found on the adjacent lands. The unique aquatic habitat found in Montezuma Well, a collapsed limestone sinkhole, contains organisms found nowhere else in the world which have evolved in response to the unique mineralization of the water. Environmental Factors Natural Features Crustaceans Trees and Shrubs Rivers and Streams Springs and Seeps	::Lodging ::Park Info ∙ Plants and Wildlife ∙ For Kids ∙ Nature and Science - Environmental Factors - Natural Features - Crustaceans - Trees and Shrubs - Rivers and Streams - Springs and Seeps ::Books ::Planning ∙ Fees ∙ Facilities ∙ Plan Your Visit ∙ Climate ∙ Activities ∙ Contacts ::Photo Gallery

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Montezuma Castle National Monument - Nature and Science