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Arizona

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Arizona is a large state in the Southwestern United States.

Entering Arizona on I-10 Westbound
Entering Arizona on I-10 Westbound

It is a landlocked place, which means it has no ocean coastline. You can find it in the Four Corners region. It shares borders with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. To the west, it sits next to Nevada and California. To the south, it shares a border with Mexico.

Mexico 1824 (equirectangular projection)
Mexico 1824 (equirectangular projection)

The state is divided into 15 different counties.

The land changes a lot depending on where you stand. The southern part of the state has a desert climate. It feels extremely hot during the summer months. The winters there are usually very mild. In the north, the weather is much more moderate. You will see forests filled with pine and spruce trees.

Koppen-Geiger Map v2 USA Arizona 1991–2020
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 USA Arizona 1991–2020

High mountains and deep canyons are also found in the north. The Grand Canyon is a famous natural wonder located here.

USA 09847 Grand Canyon Luca Galuzzi 2007
USA 09847 Grand Canyon Luca Galuzzi 2007

Arizona has a very long and interesting history. Many ancient Native American cultures lived here for thousands of years. The Hohokam and Mogollon people are examples of these groups. Later, Spanish explorers like Coronado traveled through the area.

La conquista del Colorado
La conquista del Colorado

The land was part of Mexico for a time. After a war, the United States gained much of this territory. The U.S. also bought more land through the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Eventually, Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912.

Azcap
Azcap

Many different kinds of people live in Arizona today. The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe in the country. About one-quarter of the state is made up of Indian reservations.

Navajo Cowboy-1
Navajo Cowboy-1

Phoenix is the capital and the largest city in the state. It is also the fifth-most populous city in the whole country. Many people move to the state to work or study. There are large universities like Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.

University of Arizona mall
University of Arizona mall
Asubiodesign
Asubiodesign

Today, Arizona is a busy hub for many industries. For a long time, mining was a very important job. People looked for silver and copper in the ground. By 1907, Arizona produced more copper than any other state. This earned it the nickname "the Copper State."

Cochise County Courthouse Bisbee Arizona ArtDecoDoors
Cochise County Courthouse Bisbee Arizona ArtDecoDoors

Now, many large companies have their headquarters here. Tourism is also a huge part of the economy. People visit to see the beautiful deserts and the historic "Old West" sites.

Monument Valley 15
Monument Valley 15
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🖼️ Images & Media (27)
File:La conquista del Colorado.jpg
La conquista del Colorado.jpg
File:Mexico 1824 (equirectangular projection).png
Mexico 1824 (equirectangular projection).png
File:Apache chieff Geronimo (right) and his warriors in 1886.jpg
Apache chieff Geronimo (right) and his...
File:Children of migrant cotton field workers from Sweetwater, Oklahoma, 8b15324.jpg
Children of migrant cotton field workers...
File:Eleanor Roosevelt at Gila River, Arizona at Japanese-American Internment Center - NARA - 197094.jpg
Eleanor Roosevelt at Gila River, Arizona...
File:Arizona Köppen.svg
Arizona Köppen.svg
File:USA 09847 Grand Canyon Luca Galuzzi 2007.jpg
USA 09847 Grand Canyon Luca Galuzzi 2007.jpg
File:Arizona municipalities.svg
Arizona municipalities.svg
File:Scottsdale cityscape4.jpg
Scottsdale cityscape4.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 USA Arizona 1991–2020.svg
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 USA Arizona 1991–2020.svg
File:Navajo Cowboy-1.jpg
Navajo Cowboy-1.jpg
File:Exterior of the Mission Xavier del Bac.jpg
Exterior of the Mission Xavier del Bac.jpg

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