D)    Algodones Dunes

Algodones Dunes

Located 26 miles east of Brawley, California, the Algodones Sand Dune system (sometimes referred to as the Imperial Sand Dunes) covers 1,000 square miles, making it one of the largest dune habitats in North America. The dunes are interrupted in places by basins of flats, which support mesquite, smoke tree, ironwood, palo verde and desert willow trees. The flat-tailed horned lizard, desert tortoise and Colorado desert fringe-toed lizard have all been spotted in the region. One hundred sixty plant and animal species inhabit the Algodones Dunes, many of which are rare or endemic.

The Algodones Dunes from space (below). The Cargo Muchacho Mountains can be seen in the upper part of the image, beneath the clouds. A checkerboard pattern of farms in the Colorado River floodplain is visible on the Mexican side of the border (far right); the image is rotated about 50 degrees to the west. (Wikipedia)