Willcox Playa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willcox Playa |
|
|---|---|
View facing east across the Willcox Playa toward the Dos Cabezas Mountains from a point just east of Cochise, Arizona.
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Cochise County, Arizona |
| Nearest city | Willcox |
| Area | 2,369 acres (959 ha) |
| Designated | 1966 |
The Willcox Playa is a huge dry lake in Cochise County, Arizona. It is near the town of Willcox. This area is part of the Sonoran Desert. A "playa" is a flat, dry lakebed. It is also an "endorheic basin," which means water flows into it but does not flow out to the ocean. Instead, the water either sinks into the ground or evaporates.
Long ago, during the Ice Age (a time called the Pleistocene era), this area was a large lake. It was known as Lake Cochise. Today, the Willcox Playa is what remains of that ancient lake. Parts of this dry lakebed were once used by the US military for training exercises.
In 1966, the Willcox Playa became a National Natural Landmark. It earned this special title for several reasons. Scientists found ancient plant pollen preserved deep underground here. The area is also famous for the thousands of sandhill cranes that visit every year. Plus, it has the most different types of tiger beetles found anywhere in the United States.
Where is Willcox Playa?
The Willcox Playa is located in the northern part of the Sulphur Springs Valley. Water flows into the playa from nearby mountains. From the east, water comes from the Dos Cabezas Mountains and Chiricahua Mountains. From the southwest, water drains from the Dragoon Mountains and the Little Dragoon Mountains.
During hot summer days, the intense sun can create large dust devils. These are swirling columns of wind and dust. Strong winds from thunderstorms or winter storms can also cause big dust storms. These dust storms can make it hard to see for drivers on the nearby Interstate 10 highway.
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area
Close to the dry lake is the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area. The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages this special place. It is home to many different kinds of animals and plants.
This area is very important for wildlife. Every January, a popular bird-watching event takes place here. It is called "Wings Over Willcox." People come from all over to see the many birds that visit the playa.
