What Are Sky Islands?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are sky islands?

The Big Idea

Sky islands are mountains that rise from hot desert or grassland like islands in the sea! The cool, moist peaks hold forests and animals that cannot live in the dry lowlands. The hot desert around them is like the ocean.

Cool Peaks

Step one: cool peaks. High peaks are cooler and get more rain than the desert below. That lets forests grow on top, while cactus and grass fill the lowlands.

Cut Off

Step two: cut off. Many animals cannot cross the hot, dry desert between peaks. So each mountain becomes an island of cool habitat, with the dry land like a sea around it.

Special Species

Step three: special species. Over thousands of years, species on different peaks may become different from each other. The sky islands of Arizona are rich with birds, bears, and rare plants.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Hot desert stretches all around. Cactus grows on the dry lower slopes. A cool forest grows near the top. And birds travel between the high forests.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Some sky island peaks hold species found nowhere else. Birds can fly between islands, but many small animals, like salamanders and snails, cannot. Climbing a sky island can feel like traveling from Mexico to Canada. Only visit with grown-ups and carry plenty of water.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a map of dry land with three mountain islands popping up. Label what lives on each peak. Which peak has the most animals? Why do you think so? Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Sky islands are green mountain refuges in a dry sea. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!