The North American desert is characterized by a lack of water getting less than 10 inches of rain annually. These arid areas of extreme heat and aridity, deserts are among the most fragile ecosystems on the earth. They are occupied by specially adapted plants and animals capable of thriving in this water limited environment.

The desert landscape is some of the most beautiful to photograph in all the west. The sunrise and sunset turns into a rainbow of colors as the sun sets low in the horizon. I hope you enjoy these desert landscape photographs. They were taken in Big Bend National Park, Texas, Joshua Tree Nation Park, California and Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.