Collection: Arivaca Cienega & Buenos Aires Refuge Arizona - Arid Oasis

The Wild Beauty of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge by Murray Bolesta Fine Art Prints!

From a wide-open expanse of yellow grasslands to a watery birding oasis, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is a precious place of natural protection on the threatened Arizona-Mexico border. My fine art prints capture the unexpected beauty of this remarkable desert sanctuary.

Arizona's Prairie Landscape & Desert Wetlands

Located in southern Arizona's Altar Valley, approximately 60 miles southwest of Tucson, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 118,000 acres of surprisingly diverse habitat. While most envision Arizona as cactus-studded desert, this refuge preserves rare Sonoran savanna grasslands—rolling prairies that once covered much of the region before overgrazing and development took their toll.

What Makes Arivaca Cienega Special

A "cienega" (Spanish for "marsh" or "spring") is a rare desert wetland fed by underground springs, creating vital oases in arid landscapes. Arivaca Cienega within the refuge provides critical habitat for hundreds of bird species, endangered masked bobwhite quail, pronghorn antelope, and countless other wildlife. These precious wetlands serve as migration corridors and breeding grounds, making them biodiversity hotspots in the desert Southwest.

Arizona Wildlife & Border Landscape Art

My artworks celebrate the ecological importance and visual splendor of southern Arizona's protected grasslands and wetlands, perfect for nature lovers everywhere!