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This national park in the Sonoran Desert is split into two parts, one on the west side of Tucson and the other on the east. The park is home to the most recognizable cactus in the world, the majestic saguaro. Saguaro cacti provide their sweet fruits to hungry desert animals. They also provide homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris' hawk, Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl. During the first few years, a young saguaro needs the shade and protection of a nurse plant such as the palo verde tree, and grows to about two feet tall during its first 30 years. Saguaros grow their first arm when they are about 70 years old. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over six to seven tons.
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