by A desert painter in Scottsdale asks where to find a Santa movie, what the Sonoran Desert is, and about ancient canal builders
A Letter to Santa from Scottsdale, Arizona
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Reese and I am 7 years old. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the warm Sonoran Desert, where giant cactuses stand like green guards. I love painting and looking for lizards. My question is: where is the Santa Claus movie? I want to watch one! My geography question is: what is the Sonoran Desert, and why does the saguaro cactus grow there? And my social studies question is: who were the ancient canal builders of the desert? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Reese (age 7)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Reese! A desert painter who hunts for lizards is a curious soul. If you are wondering where to find a Santa movie to watch, the best plan is to ask a grown-up to check your television or a streaming guide, since which ones are available changes every year and depends on where you live. And if you meant where Santa movies take place, most of them are set in my snowy North Pole or in cozy, snow-dusted little towns, which must look quite magical to a desert dweller like you!
Your geography question: the Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert, where your own Scottsdale sits, is a warm desert known for getting just enough rain to support surprising life. It is the only place in the world where the giant saguaro cactus grows wild. The saguaro can live for over a hundred years and grow taller than a house, storing precious water inside to survive the dry spells. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the ancient canal builders
Long, long ago, a people called the Hohokam lived in the desert near your own Scottsdale. They were clever engineers who dug hundreds of miles of canals to carry water from rivers to their fields, letting them farm in a dry land. Some modern canals still follow the paths they laid down centuries ago. They were true desert pioneers. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Paint a saguaro for me, Reese. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
