Madrean Sky Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Madrean Sky Islands montane forests |
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Apache Peak in the Whetstone Mountains, as seen from the Kartchner Caverns State Park
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Madrean Sky Islands montane forests ecoregion
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| Ecology | |
| Biome | Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest |
| Geography | |
| Countries | Mexico and United States |
| States | Arizona, Chihuahua and New Mexico |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/Endangered |
The Madrean Sky Islands are like special "islands" of forests found high up in mountains. These areas have pine and oak trees. You can find them in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico.
These forest "islands" are surrounded by hot, dry lands. The Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts are at lower elevations all around them. To the north, the Sky Islands connect to the higher Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in eastern Arizona.
The Sky Islands are the most northern part of the Madrean pine-oak woodlands. They are part of the Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests ecoregion. This type of habitat is known as a tropical and subtropical coniferous forests biome. These "islands" became separated from each other and from the main pine-oak forests to the south. This happened because the climate got warmer and drier after the ice ages.
There are about 27 Madrean Sky Islands in the United States. Another 15 are found in northern Mexico. Some of the main Sky Island mountain ranges in Arizona include the Baboquivari Mountains, Chiricahua Mountains, Huachuca Mountains, Pinaleño Mountains, Santa Catalina Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains, and Whetstone Mountains. Other similar Sky Island ranges are the Animas Mountains in New Mexico. You can also find them in west Texas, like the Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, and Chisos Mountains.
Amazing Animals of the Sky Islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are home to many interesting animals. One special animal is the North American jaguar. These big cats used to live in the United States but had disappeared from the area.
Now, a small number of jaguars are returning to the Sky Islands from northern Mexico. One famous jaguar was named El Jefe. He was seen in Arizona in 2013. This shows how important these unique mountain "islands" are for wildlife.
See also
In Spanish: Archipiélago Madrense para niños
