About halfway to Sonoita, the highway forsakes the straight arrow course out of San Luis Rio Colorado to wind easily among some of the fringing cones and basalt mesas of Cerro Pinacate. It is hard to find a greater single volcano than this anywhere in the world. The volcano's broad, symmetrical, black lava mass studded with hundreds of cinder cones and pocked with explosion pits and calderas, lies south of the highway, which cuts across some of the lava flows. U.S. astronauts practiced bore before their first moon mission.
The final approach to Sonoita is through a natural conservatory of desert vegetation. If you drive this route in the spring, you may see the spectacular golden blooms of the palo verde. Other perennial plants that blossom in the spring are the cholla, giant saguaro, ocotillo, creosote, and organ pipe cactus. You may also see such annuals as poppies, mallows, and mariposa lilies.
Sonoita, though on the border, would be a typical Mexican country town except for its modern gas stations. An air conditioned motel is also available. The scenery becomes slightly more attractive south of Sonoita.
About halfway to Sonoita, the highway forsakes the straight arrow course out of San Luis Rio Colorado to wind easily among some of the fringing cones and basalt mesas of Cerro Pinacate. It is hard to find a greater single volcano than this anywhere in the world. The volcano's broad, symmetrical, black lava mass studded with hundreds of cinder cones and pocked with explosion pits and calderas, lies south of the highway, which cuts across some of the lava flows. U.S. astronauts practiced bore before their first moon mission.
Sonoita, though on the border, would be a typical Mexican country town except for its modern gas stations. An air conditioned motel is also available. The scenery becomes slightly more attractive south of Sonoita.
