Navajo sands

This landscape picture is taken near Page AZ. It is a beautiful and very colorful land. Red sands and cliffs define the landscape.

There are several interesting cacti that grow in the area, including Echinocactus xeranthemoides, Echinocereis mojavensis and engelmannii, Eclerocactus parviflorus, Pediocacti, Opuntias and Cylindropuntias. Cacti inhabit mainly rock outcrops and cliffs, or slops that are stable enough to not be eroded away before the plants have chance to establish. Sand dunes like in the picture often too dry for cacti to establish. Opuntia polyacantha in this picture is one of the species what can settle at such grounds. Cylindropuntia whipplei is another one.