Cactus Plain facts for kids
Cactus Plain is a large, flat area of land. It is located in western Arizona, United States. You can find it in La Paz County. The plain is east of the famous Colorado River and Parker Valley.
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Where is Cactus Plain?
Cactus Plain is part of the Lower Colorado River Valley. This valley is a big area around the lower part of the Colorado River. The plain is next to a place called Bouse Wash. A "wash" is a dry streambed that fills with water when it rains. Bouse Wash is to the south of Cactus Plain. This wash flows northwest towards the Colorado River.
Special Protected Areas
Cactus Plain has two special areas that are protected. These areas are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM helps take care of public lands. These protected areas are great for outdoor activities. You can go backpacking (carrying your gear and hiking). You can also enjoy day hiking, sightseeing, and horseback riding. Many people visit to take photos or study plants and wildlife.
Cactus Plain Wilderness Study Area
This area covers about 59,100 acres (23,900 ha) of Cactus Plain. It protects the western two-thirds of the plain. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Parker. It is also about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Bouse.
The Cactus Plain Wilderness Study Area is a huge open space. It has many sand dunes. These dunes are special because they are mostly stable. This means they don't move around much. This kind of dune area is rare in western Arizona.
East Cactus Plain Wilderness
The East Cactus Plain Wilderness protects the eastern part of the plain. It covers about 14,630 acres (5,920 ha). This area is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Bouse.
This wilderness area is known for its unique crescent-shaped dunes. It has very dense plant life. The plants here are special because they are found only in this part of Arizona. The area has a wide variety of different plant species. This makes it a very unique place for nature lovers.
