Arizona is situated in the southwestern region of the United States. The Colorado Plateau makes up its northern part. Flowing across the plateau, the Colorado River has carved a long, deep gorge famous around the world as the Grand Canyon. It is 446 kilometres (277 miles) long, and ranges in width from 6 to 29 kilometres (4 to 18 miles) at a depth of more than 1.6 kilometres (1 mile). The river and its tributaries have cut through layer after layer of rock as the Colorado Plateau uplifted, exposing nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history. Also part of the Colorado Plateau is Monument Valley, a cluster of sandstone buttes (flat-topped “islands” of rock edged by near-vertical cliffs) on the Arizona–Utah border. Marking the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau is the Mogollon Rim, a 600-metre (2000-foot) escarpment, which cuts across the centre of the state. To the south is Basin and Range country, a series of mountain ranges interspersed with wide valleys. Much of this area is desert.

Name

The name Arizona may have come from the Native American (O’odham) words ali sonak, meaning “small spring”, describing a small area around a silver mining camp in what later became part of Arizona. To the Europeans, the local pronunciation sounded like "Arissona". Another possible origin may be the Basque phrase haritz ona (“the good oak”) used by shepherds who originally came from the Basque area of northern Spain. Although the origin is uncertain, “Arizona” definitely did not originate from the Spanish term for “arid zone”, as some have thought. The Spanish for arid zone would be zona árida.

Climate

Southern Arizona has a desert climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters. Northern Arizona, with its extensive coniferous forests, has milder summer temperatures and cold winters, during which major snowfalls are not uncommon. In the south, a monsoon season occurs towards the end of summer. Hot moisture in the air brings thunderstorms and brief torrential downpours, often causing flash floods.

Cattle farming is the principal agricultural activity in Arizona. Cotton, sorghum and vegetables are the chief crops grown. Copper is mined from the large open-pit and underground mines, making up two-thirds of the output of the US. The extensive pine and fir forests of northern and central Arizona support an important timber industry. The state’s manufacturing industries include electronics, printing and publishing, food processing and aerospace.

​​​​​​​Arizona’s extraordinary landscape draws millions of tourists every year, with the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, meteorite craters, ancient Native American sites and Spanish colonial ruins the top attractions.

Facts about Arizona

Area 113,595 sq miles (294,315 sq km)

Highest point Humphreys Peak 12,637 ft (3852 m)

Population 7,431,344

Capital Phoenix

Largest cities Phoenix, 1,650,070; Tucson, 547,239; Mesa, 511,648; Chandler, 280,167; Gilbert, 275,411

Nicknames The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State

State bird Cactus wren

State flower Saguaro cactus

State tree Palo verde