Tonto National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tonto National Monument |
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Lower Cliff Dwelling
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 Tonto National Monument
Location in Arizona
Tonto National Monument
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gila County, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Globe, Arizona |
| Area | 1,120 acres (4.5 km2) |
| Created | October 21, 1907 |
| Visitors | 39,822 (in 2018) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Tonto National Monument |
Tonto National Monument is a special place in central Arizona, in the Superstition Mountains. It's a National Monument, which means it's protected by the government because of its important history and nature. This area is on the edge of the Sonoran Desert, a dry place that gets about 16 inches (400 mm) of rain each year. The Salt River flows nearby, giving a rare, steady source of water.
Contents
Ancient Cliff Dwellings
Tonto National Monument is famous for its amazing cliff dwellings. These ancient homes were built high up in the cliffs. People from the Salado culture lived here a long time ago, between the 13th and early 15th centuries.
Life of the Salado People
The Salado people were farmers. They grew their food in the Salt River Valley. They also hunted animals and gathered plants from the desert to eat. These people were very skilled artists and craftspeople. They made beautiful pottery with many colors, called polychrome pottery. They also wove detailed textiles, which are some of the best found in the Southwest. You can see some of the things they made at the visitor center museum.
Protecting History
The area where the Salado people lived is very important. It's called the Tonto National Monument Archeological District. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This helps protect the ancient homes and artifacts for everyone to learn from.
Nature and Wildlife
The National Monument is surrounded by the huge Tonto National Forest. This forest has many different types of land. You can find low plains, desert areas with scrubland plants, and even pine forests high up in the mountains.
Desert Plants
The desert here is part of the Upper Sonoran ecosystem. It's known for its tall saguaro cacti. Other common plants you might see include:
- Cholla cactus
- Prickly pear cactus
- Hedgehog cactus
- Barrel cactus (these have beautiful flowers from April to June)
- Yucca
- Sotol
- Agave
- Creosote bush
- Ocotillo
- Palo verde trees
- Mesquite trees
If there's enough rain, many colorful wild flowers bloom from February to March. Near the Salt River, there are lush areas with big Arizona Walnut, Arizona Sycamore, and hackberry trees.
Desert Animals
This area is home to many native animals. You might spot whitetail deer or mule deer. Larger animals like mountain lions and bobcats also live here. There are three types of rattlesnakes, along with many other reptiles and birds.
Wilderness Areas Nearby
Around Tonto National Monument, there are special protected areas called National Wilderness Areas. These are places where nature is kept wild and untouched. Some of these nearby wilderness areas include Four Peaks, Superstition, and Salome Wilderness Areas.
Photo gallery
Images for kids
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Landsat 7 image of Tonto National Monument (right center), and the surrounding area
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, hand prints on wall
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking west
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Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking along west face
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Tonto National Monument, looking east
See also
In Spanish: Monumento Nacional Tonto para niños
