TUCSON, Ariz. (September 16, 2009) -- A tour of remarkable locations in the Southwest is ready for fans of the national parks.

"Southwestern Gems: Our Desert National Parks," a one-hour documentary from the producers of "The Desert Speaks," showcases the best of America’s national parks, monuments, preserves and historic sites of the four major North American deserts. The new documentary premieres 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 with an encore broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 27 p.m., preceding the PBS premiere of "The National Parks: America’s Best Idea" from producer Ken Burns.

"Southwestern Gems" brings to life the four major North American deserts: The Great Basin Desert of Nevada and Utah; the Mohave Desert of California; the Sonoran Desert of Arizona; and the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico and Texas. Insight from experts and researchers from national parks within each of these locations guides viewers through the biology, geology and research that inspired the protection and preservation of these natural microcosms.

While each of these major desert areas has its own defining individuality, each park, monument, preserve and historic area within these deserts has the character fitting their protected designations. Some of these sites showcased in "Southwestern Gems: Our Desert National Parks" include:

Chihuahuan Desert (New Mexico & Texas): Big Bend National Park, White Sands National Monument, Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Great Basin Desert (Nevada & Utah): Great Basin National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Mohave Desert (California), Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve

Sonoran Desert (Arizona): Chiricahua National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

"Southwestern Gems: Our Desert National Parks," a new documentary of national parks of the Southwest from the producers of "The Desert Speaks" and Arizona Public Media. Wednesday night September 23 at 8 p.m. with an encore broadcast Sunday, September 27 at 7 p.m. on PBS-HD channel 6, immediately preceding the Sunday night PBS premiere of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

A video preview of Southwestern Gems can be found on the National Parks page of the Arizona Public Media website.

Arizona Public Media® is a member-supported non-profit media organization of The University of Arizona, this year celebrating 50 years of public broadcasting service to Southern Arizona. Arizona Public Media (AZPM) station KUAT Channel 6 offers Channel 6-1 PBS-HD; 6-2 V-me (en español); 6-3 Create; and KUAS Channel 27 offers Channel 27-1 PBS-HD; 27-2 PBS Kids; 27-3 PBS World; the UA Channel (Cox 116/Comcast 76), classical music station KUAT-FM 90.5/89.7; NPR affiliate KUAZ 1550AM/89.1 FM; and the Ahora channel (en español) on KUAZ-HD2. AZPM also produces award-winning original local programming from its digital studios on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. More information on programming and community events can be found at www.AZpublicmedia.org

Arizona Public Media is a registered trademark of the Arizona Board of Regents.