Tumamoc Hill
Tucson's Desert Laboratory
The story of the desert laboratory started just after the turn of the
century back when Tucson was a small town. The Santa Cruz River still had
water in it year-round, and the speed limit for automobiles was 7 MPH.
The desert labortory has been dedicated to studying plants, animals and
the environment of North American deserts. Since deserts are particularly
sensitive to human disturbance, the need to understand desert life has
become increasingly important as the population of arid regions has grown.
Over the past five decades, the population of North American desert
regions has grown tremendously, with a dramatic increase in
economic development. Now, more than ever, continued research at the
desert laboratory is needed to encourage wise decisions concerning desert
lands.
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