Arizona Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: West
• Size: 114006 sq.mi., 6th rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: February 14, 1912
• Population: 6,595,778;14th rank overall.
• Capital: Phoenix
• Other Major City: Tucson
• Abbreviation: AZ

Fun Facts

• Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Cactus Wren (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• Covering the northern 2/5 of the state is mostly flat, level land with an occasional mountain and canyon of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River runs through this area carving the deepest canyon known as the Grand Canyon. The region is mostly dry desert area, but a few forested mountains exist.
• Across the center portion of the state is the Transition Zone. It is a series of rugged mountain ranges and valleys such as; Mazatzal, Santa Maria, Sierra Ancha, and White mountain ranges.
• The Basin and Ridge region spans across the southern section of the state bordering with California. Many mountain ranges run from the northwest to the southeast. Most notable are the Chiricahua, Gila, Huachuca, Hualapai, Pinaleno, Santa Catalina, Santa Rita, and Superstition mountain ranges.

Map: Relief Map of AZ

Industry

Manufactoring, copper and other mining, electric equipment, transportation equipment, machinery, aerospace, printing and publishing, high-technology research and development, food processing, electronics, tourism

Agriculture

Cattle, cotton, cauliflowers, broccoli, dairy products, lettuce, sorghum, nursery stock, hay.

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• Arizona produces the most copper in the United States.
• A person from Arizona is called an Arizonan.
• The ringtail, which is a small fox-like animal, is the official state mammal.
• The state with the most land set aside for Indian lands is Arizona.
• 4,800,000 pennies could be made with the amount of copper on the roof of the Capital building.

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/arizona.htm