An oasis in the Tucson desert

Just beyond the eastern edge of Tucson is a cool oasis in the desert that I visited yesterday. It's called Agua Caliente (hot water) Park. A natural spring feeds the area, and it is believed to have been inhabited as many as 5,500 years ago. It's been a health resort, an orchard, and now it's a 101-acre park maintained by Pima County. 

There were two springs originally, a hot and a cold spring. Together they produced a water flow of more than 500 gallons per minute. In the 1930s the springs were blasted in an effort to increase the flow, but it had the opposite effect. (One shouldn't mess with Mother Nature.) It drastically reduced the flow and collapsed the two springs into one with a temperature of around 72 degree year round. 

The spring was blasted again in the early 1960s in another attempt to increase the flow, but it cut it again down to around one fifth the original flow. (Some people never learn.) Now the flow is an immeasurable seep.

The palms are enormous!!! Look at how small my friend (in the blue shirt) looks standing beside them. These are California fan palms, which thrive here.

It's shady and cool walking among these giants.

The palm "skirts" provide roosts for bats and shelter for raccoons and other wildlife.

Besides the fan palms, the park has date palms that are believed to have been planted in the 1920s-1930s by a wealthy owner who planned to build a resort there but never did.

The views are amazing, considering that the park is surrounded by desert flatlands and dry mountains.

It's incredibly quiet and peaceful. A list of banned activities at the entrance ensures there will be no boom boxes, drones and other distractions.

This path winds through mesquite woodland, which provides refuge for mule deer, bobcats, javelina and other animals. There is also a birding trail. This is near what once was an orchard with a reported 3,000 fruit trees including orange, fig and apricot.

Pond wildlife includes turtles, ducks and many other water birds. During my visit I saw hundreds of purple dragonflies skimming the ground but I couldn't capture them in a picture.

For the humans who find cool refuge here, there are picnic tables, benches and a small shop and art gallery that was closed during my visit. I know I'll be back!

For more info, click here: One.aspx

Have a colorful day