Tonto National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tonto National Monument |
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Lower Cliff Dwelling
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| Location | Gila County, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Globe, Arizona |
| Area | 1,120 acres (4.5 km2) |
| Created | December 19, 1907 |
| Visitors | 31,504 (in 2022) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Tonto National Monument |
Tonto National Monument is a special place in central Arizona, USA. It's located in the beautiful Superstition Mountains. This monument protects ancient cliff dwellings where people lived many centuries ago. It's also home to amazing desert plants and animals. The area gets about 16 inches (400 mm) of rain each year, but the Salt River flows through it, providing water all year long.
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Ancient Cliff Dwellings
Imagine living in homes built right into the side of a cliff! That's what the Salado culture did at Tonto National Monument. These well-preserved cliff dwellings were home to people during the 1200s, 1300s, and early 1400s.
The Salado people were clever farmers. They grew crops in the Salt River Valley. They also hunted animals and gathered wild plants to eat. These ancient people were also amazing artists and craftspeople. They made colorful pottery with many designs, called polychrome pottery. They also wove beautiful and detailed textiles. You can see some of these ancient items at the visitor center museum.
The Tonto National Monument area is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The Lower Ruin and Upper Ruin, which are the main dwelling sites, were also listed in 1989.
Nature and Wildlife at Tonto Monument
The National Monument is surrounded by the huge Tonto National Forest. This forest has many different types of land, from low plains to desert scrubland and even pine forests high up in the mountains.
Desert Plants and Flowers
The desert here is called the Upper Sonoran ecosystem. It's famous for its tall saguaro cacti, which are like giant green statues. You'll also find other cool plants like cholla and prickly pear cacti. Look for hedgehog agave and barrel cactus when they bloom from April to June. Other plants include yucca, sotol, and agave. You might also see creosote bush and ocotillo, which has long, spiky branches.
Trees like palo verde and mesquite provide shade. In years with good rain, the desert bursts with colorful wildflowers from February to March. Near the river, there's a lush area with big Arizona Walnut, Arizona Sycamore, and hackberry trees.
Animals of the Desert
This area is a home for many native animals. You might spot whitetail and mule deer. Larger predators like mountain lions and bobcats also live here. Be careful of the three different kinds of rattlesnakes that call this desert home! Many other animals, big and small, live and thrive in this unique environment.
Nearby Wilderness Areas
Around Tonto National Monument, there are several special wilderness areas. These are places where nature is protected and left wild. They include the Four Peaks, Superstition, and Salome Wilderness Areas. These areas offer even more chances to explore the natural beauty of Arizona.
More Pictures
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View of Tonto National Monument looking southwest
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View of Tonto National Monument
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View of Tonto National Monument looking toward Roosevelt Lake
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Landsat 7 image of Tonto National Monument (right center), and the surrounding area
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A closer look at a room inside Tonto National Monument
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Another view of a room detail at Tonto National Monument
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Details inside a room at Tonto National Monument
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A room detail at Tonto National Monument
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Ancient hand prints on a wall at Tonto National Monument
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Tonto National Monument, looking west
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Tonto National Monument, looking along the west face
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Tonto National Monument, facing east
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See also
In Spanish: Monumento nacional Tonto para niños
