Most of the people who live in Arizona make their homes in the Sonoran Desert. The cities of Casa Grande, Nogales, and Yuma are found here. Tucson, long known as the Old Pueblo, is also located in the Sonoran Desert. The Valley of the Sun is also located in the Sonoran Desert. The cities of Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Phoenix are all found here. Over 60 percent of the people who live in Arizona live in the Valley of the Sun. Some of Arizona’s most interesting natural and historic places are found in the Sonoran Desert. Organ Pipe National Monument, Casa Grande National Monument, and Kitt Peak National Observatory are all found in the Sonoran Desert. The central part of Arizona is a series of about 30 mountain ranges that are alike in form and age. The Mountain-Highland region makes up 28 percent of Arizona’s land. The highest point on the Mountain-Highland region is Mount Graham. Mt. Graham’s elevation is 10,720 feet. It is located near Safford. Saguaro National Park is located near Tucson. It was established as a national park in October 1994. Its mission is to help preserve the saguaro cacti and the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert gets its name from the Mexican state of Sonora. Chapter 2 • The Land  17