Arizona is a state located in the southwestern United States of America. It borders New Mexico to the east, California to the west, Mexico to the south, and Colorado to the northeast. Area 295,254 km². The state capital is Phoenix. Major cities: Mesa and Tucson. In 2011, the population was 6,482,505 (16th largest). The territory is divided into 15 counties. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the United States.

State Attractions

On the territory of the state is one of the wonders of the world - the Grand Canyon. This is one of the deepest (up to 1800 meters) canyons in the world, formed by the Colorado River. The walls of the canyon are huge columns and pyramids, painted in various colors - a truly majestic and fantastic sight. Weather, flora and fauna here depends on the depth.

national park"Petrified Forest", on the territory of which the remains of prehistoric trees are stored. These trees are over two hundred million years old. In the northern part of the park is the Painted Desert. About one and a half hundred square miles of land are colored in different colors due to the presence of minerals in the soil.

Monument Valley is another popular place in Arizona among tourists. These are giant rocks of various bizarre shapes sticking out of the ground.

Geography and climate

The state has a large forest of yellow pine, a large area falls on plateaus, mountains and deserts. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is located in northern Arizona. To the southwest in the Sonoran Desert are the cities of Tucson, Yuma, and Phoenix. Since it is rainy for two seasons a year, the flora and fauna of these places is quite diverse. The Mojave, Chihuahua, and Colored Deserts are also located here. Almost the entire territory of the state is located in the basin of the large Colorado River. Due to the specifics of the terrain, the climate in each region is significantly different. In the lowlands, the climate is desert, with hot summers and mild winters. average temperature in the autumn-spring period 16°C. The amount of precipitation is also related to the position, terrain. The southeastern part of the state receives more rainfall than the southwestern side.

There is a plateau in the north of the state. The area is characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The temperature can drop below -18°C.

Economy

Arizona ranks first in the country in copper mining. 2/3 of the country's copper is mined here. A large deposit is San Manuel. The copper-colored star on the Arizona flag symbolizes the abundance of copper reserves. Here they also breed cattle, produce dairy products, grow cotton and vegetables. Most of the major industrial plants are located in Phoenix and Tucson. There are large enterprises for the production of guided missiles, aviation devices, semiconductors, computer equipment, and optics. In the deserts of Arizona, many military air bases are deployed. Alcor, one of the largest cryogenic firms, operates in the state. Produced a large number of lumber (mainly softwood).

Population and religion

Ethnic composition: White - 73%, African American - 4.1%, Native Americans - 4.6%, Asians - 2.8%, Oceanians and Hawaiians - 0.2%, representatives of other races - 11.9% and 3, 4% representatives of 2 races or more (2010). According to 2009 data, 27.4% of the population have Mexican roots, 16% German, 10.8% Irish, 10.1% English, 4.6% Italian. Arizona ranks first among other states in terms of the number of residents who speak Indian languages. About 8% of the population are illegal immigrants. Religious composition: 29% of the population are Catholics, 17% of the inhabitants do not profess any religion, 10% are Evangelical Christians, 8% are Baptists, 6% are Mormons, 5% are Methodists, 25% are adherents of other religions.

Do you know...

The Grand Canyon is on the list world heritage UNESCO.

The state of Arizona is located in the Western United States and belongs to the mountainous states. The territory of Arizona is 295,254 km 2 (6th place in the USA). it borders the states of California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, and Mexico to the south.

Arizona is one of the "four corners" states (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona), the only ones in the United States, the border between which runs along straight lines (meridian and parallels).

According to the features of the relief in Arizona, two main areas can be distinguished - the Colorado Plateau in the north of the state and the desert plains in the south.

The Colorado Plateau occupies almost the entire north of Arizona, as well as territories in the neighboring states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The height of the plateau varies from 1,500 to 2,400 meters above sea level. The Colorado Plateau is called the "land of the red mountains" because of the characteristic bright red hue of the rocks.

Several mountain ranges rise above the plateau, including the most high point Arizona - Humphrey Peak (3,851 meters). Although Arizona as a whole is one of the hottest states in the US and deservedly included in the "US Sunshine Belt", nevertheless, snow can lie on the tops of some mountains all summer.

Humphrey Peak, the highest point in Arizona

It is on the territory of the Colorado Plateau that the most famous and popular among tourists natural attractions of Arizona are located: the Grand Canyon, the Antelope Canyon, the Barringer Crater, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and others.

To the south, the Colorado Plateau ends in a escarpment known as the Mogollon Rim. The southern (and partly western) parts of Arizona are characterized by desert plains, over which individual mountain ranges rise. It is here that the extraction of minerals (copper, gold, silver and others), one of the main branches of the economy of Arizona, is mainly concentrated.

In southern Arizona is the Sonoran Desert, one of the largest and hottest deserts in the United States. It is here that the largest cities of the state are located - Phoenix and Tucson, in which most of the population of Arizona lives.

Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona

Northwest Arizona is occupied by the Mojave Desert, most of which is located in the neighboring state of Nevada. The largest river in Arizona is the Colorado. Almost all the rivers of the state flow into it, it was the Colorado River that formed the famous Grand Canyon, it was on it (and on its tributaries) that the largest dams of Arizona were built (including the famous Hoover Dam).

A bend in the Colorado River on a plateau in northern Arizona

In the 1970s and 1990s, the state built the giant Central Arizona Canal, diverting water from the Colorado River to irrigate the arid central and southern regions state.

The climate of Arizona is dry, in the south it is hot all year round, in the northern regions it is cooler. Precipitation mainly falls at the beginning of winter, brought by winds from Pacific Ocean, and during the summer, when humid air comes from the Gulf of Mexico. In summer, along with monsoon rains, thunderstorms often come. In the mountains in the north of the state, snow falls quite often in winter.

The temperature in January in the area of ​​the largest city and the capital of the state of Arizona, Phoenix, ranges from 7°С to 19°С, in July - from 27°С to 42°С. In the north of Arizona, in Flagstaff, in January from -9°С to 6°С, in July - from 10°С to 28°С.

State of Arizona
State of Arizona
Nickname	"Grand Canyon State"
Motto	"Dita Deus"
Official language	English
Spoken languages	English, Spanish, Navajo
Capital
The largest city
By area	6th state
Total area	295,234 km²
Width	500 km
Length	645 km
% water surface	0,35
By population	14th state
Total population	6 828 065
Density	22 people/km²
Highest point	Peak Humphrey (3852 m)
Before statehood	Arizona Territory
Joining the Union	February 14, 1912 (48th)
Administration website	http://www.az.gov

Arizona(Eng. Arizona, State of Arizona) - one of the US states located in the Southwest. It is also one of the western states and one of the mountain states. Arizona is the sixth of the 50 states by area and the 14th by population. The state capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is one of the "Four Corner States" and borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, and Mexico, as well as one corner of Colorado. Arizona's border with Mexico is 626 km, with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California.

Of the 48 contiguous contiguous states, Arizona was the last to be admitted to the Union as a state on February 12, 1912. Historically, Arizona was part of Alta California in New Spain. In 1821, it became part of the newly independent Mexico. In 1848, most of Arizona was ceded by Mexico to the United States as a result of the Mexican-American War. Southern Arizona became part of the United States in 1853 as a result of the Gadsden Purchase.

Southern Arizona is a hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Northern Arizona has a more varied landscape and climate, with spruce, pine, and fir forests, the Colorado Plateau, several mountain ranges (such as the San Francisco Range), and large deep canyons with much more moderate summer temperatures and significant winter snowfall. The Flagstaff, Alpilles, and Tucson areas have ski resorts. Arizona has several national parks, national forests and national monuments, the most famous of which is the Grand Canyon.

About one quarter of the state of Arizona is Indian reservations, home to 27 federally recognized tribes of Native Americans, including the Navajo Nation, the largest indigenous people in the US and Arizona, with over 300,000 citizens. Although a federal law in 1924 granted Native Americans the right to vote, in Arizona, through various stipulations, Indians were not allowed to vote. It was not until 1948 that the state Supreme Court upheld the Indians and found the practice illegal.

Name

Where the name of the state of Arizona came from is still not exactly known. There are several Native American and Spanish versions. It appears to have come from Arizonaca, the name of an area near a silver ore mining camp in Planchas de Plata, Sonora, Mexico. The name of the area was a translation of the Ali Sonak word of the Oodham Indians, which meant "Little Spring". For Europeans, it sounded like "Arissona". Another possible origin is the phrase "Chartits ona" ("Good oak tree") in Basque, as there were many Basque sheep farmers in the area.

There is also a misconception that the name Arizona means "Arid Zone" ("Arida Zone" in Spanish).

Geography

Arizona is located in the Southwestern United States, on the border with Mexico. Arizona is the sixth largest state in terms of area, smaller than New Mexico but larger than Nevada. Of Arizona's total area of ​​295,00 km², 15% is privately owned. The rest is public forests, national park lands, government trust lands, and Native American reservations.

Saguaro National Park

Arizona is known for its desert valleys and ranges province, which occupies the southern part of the state. In the desert there are xerophyte plants, especially cacti. The topography is formed by prehistoric volcanism, followed by cooling and subsidence. The climate has exceptionally hot summers and mild winters. The north of the state is less well known - it is the mountainous landscape of the Colorado Plateau, covered pine forests.

Like other states in the Southwestern United States, Arizona is covered in deserts, mountains, and plateaus. Despite the aridity of the state, 27% of the area is covered by forests - a percentage comparable to France or Germany. Arizona has the largest number of yellow pine in the world.

Mogollon line - escarp, or a cliff up to 609 meters high, crosses the central part of the state and is the southwestern border of the Colorado Plateau. In 2002, the region was the site of the Rodeo-Chediskine fire, the most destructive fire in the state's history.

In Northern Arizona, on the Colorado Plateau, is the Grand Canyon - the largest and most beautiful canyon in the world. He is one of seven natural wonders light and most of it is contained in the Grand Canyon National Park - one of the first national parks in the country. The park was created by President Theodore Roosevelt, who often visited here, hunted the cougar and admired the scenery. The canyon is formed by the Colorado River, which has been washing soil out of the plateau for millions of years. The Grand Canyon is 446 kilometers long, 6 to 29 kilometers wide, and up to 1,600 meters deep.

Arizona is home to the Arizona Meteor Crater, or Barringer Crater, one of the most famous and well-preserved meteorite craters on Earth. It formed about 50,000 years ago on the Colorado Plateau, 40 kilometers west of Winslow. The shaft surrounding the crater rises 46 meters above the surface. The crater itself is 1.6 kilometers in diameter and 170 meters deep.

Arizona is one of only two US states, along with Hawaii, where clocks do not change to daylight saving time. The exception is the Navajo people, who live in Northeast Arizona, where they switch to daylight saving time.

Arizona crater

earthquakes

Generally, Arizona has a low risk of earthquakes, except in the southwestern part, which is close to the Southern California faults. On the other hand, Northern Arizona is at medium risk due to faults. Regions close to and west of Phoenix have the least risk.

The very first earthquakes in Arizona were recorded at Fort Yuma, on the California side of the Colorado River. Epicenters have been concentrated in the Imperial Valley of California or the Mexican state of Sonora since the 1800s. Residents of Douglas felt the Sonora earthquake in 1887, its epicenter was 64 kilometers to the south, in Mexico. The first earthquake to cause destruction in Arizona occurred on January 25, 1906. The epicenter was in Socorro, New Mexico, and the strong tremors were in Flagstaff, Arizona.

In September 1910, a series of fifty-two earthquakes forced the construction crew off Flagstaff to leave the area. On August 18, 1912, an earthquake caused a 80-kilometer fissure in the San Francisco Ridge. In early January 1935, a large earthquake hit the Yuma and Grand Canyon region. The strongest earthquake in Arizona occurred in 1959, it had a magnitude of 5.9, and the epicenter was located in the northwest, near the border with Utah and Nevada.

Climate

Due to its large area and variation in height, Arizona accommodates several climatic zones. At low altitudes, the climate is predominantly desert, with mild winters and extremely hot summers. As a rule, from late autumn to early spring the weather is mild, averaging at least 16°C. November to February are the coldest months, with temperatures ranging from 4°C to 24°C and occasional frosts.

From around mid-February, temperatures begin to rise, with warm days and cool, crisp nights. The summer months from June to September are dry and hot. The temperature is 32-49°C, far in the desert sometimes exceeds 50°C. On November 29, 1994 and July 5, 2007, Arizona recorded temperature records: 53 ° C in Lake Havasu City. The record for the lowest temperature (-40°C) was recorded on January 7, 1971 at Lake Howley. Due to the dry climate in the desert at altitudes above 760 meters, there are large diurnal temperature fluctuations, reaching up to 28°C in the summer months.

Arizona has an average annual rainfall of 323 mm, which comes with two rainy seasons: a cold front from the Pacific Ocean in winter and monsoons in summer. The rainy season comes at the end of summer and peaks in July or August. Along with the doge season comes lightning, thunderstorms, high winds and heavy but usually short showers. These downpours often cause flash floods that can be fatal. In an attempt to keep drivers from flooding torrents, the Arizona legislature passed the "Dumb Motorist Law". Tornadoes or hurricanes rarely occur.

Northern Arizona is a plateau with much high altitudes, and therefore a cooler climate, with cold winters and mild summers, although remaining semi-arid to arid. Extremely low temperatures are not observed, only sometimes the wind from the northern states and Canada brings cold temperatures down to -18°C.

Story

Apache Indians

Thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, numerous tribes of Native Americans lived in Arizona. The Hohokam, Mogolon, and ancient Pueblo cultures flourished throughout the state. Many of the pueblos rock paintings, rock cities and other artifacts of the Pueblo people have been preserved, and are Arizona's tourist attractions.

The first European to come into contact with the local Indians was the Spanish Franciscan Marcos de Niza, who arrived in Arizona in 1539. He explored parts of the state and made contact with the locals, probably Sobaipuri. The Spanish explorer Francisco de Coronado's expedition crossed Arizona during the 1540-1542 expedition in search of Cibola.

Kino's father was the next European in the region. As a Jesuit, he led the development of Catholic missions. He converted many Indians in the Pimer Alta (now Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora) to Christianity in the 1690s and early 18th century. Spain established presidiums ("fortified towns") at Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775.

When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, what is now Arizona became part of Nueva California, or Alta California. The descendants of the Spanish and Mestizo settlers lived in these areas much longer than later American colonists.

During the Mexican–American War in 1847, the United States occupied Mexico City and laid claim to northern Mexico, including much of what is now Arizona. The northern two-thirds of Arizona, along with many other territories, including California, were ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848. It also stipulated that all linguistic and cultural rights local residents remain untouched, and Mexico was paid $15 million in compensation ($415 million in 2016 prices). In 1853, the remaining third of the state of Arizona joined the United States. U.S. signs Gadsden treaty with Mexico to buy land south of the river Hill for $10 million. Until 1850, Arizona was under the control of the New Mexico Transitional Government, and then became part of the New Mexico Territory. During the Civil War southern part Territory of New Mexico seceded and joined the confederation on March 16, 1861, becoming the Confederate Territory of Arizona. On February 14, 1862, Arizona officially became a territory of the Confederacy by order of Jefferson Davis, the first written use of the modern name.

Arizona participated in civil war on the side of the southerners, she supported the Confederacy with men, horses and supplies. Formed in 1861, the Arizona Rangers fought throughout the war. The Battle of Picacho Pass took place in Arizona, the westernmost battle of the entire war.

The federal government formed the Arizona Territory on February 24, 1863, by carving out the western half of New Mexico. these boundaries are still in place today. The first capital of the territory was Prescott, founded in 1864 during the gold rush in central Arizona.

Brigham Young sent Mormons to Arizona in the mid to late 19th century. They founded Mesa, Snowflake, Heber, Safford and other cities. And also they settled in the Phoenix Valley, Tempe, Prescott and other areas.

During the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1920, several battles were fought in the cities bordering Arizona. Many Arizonas were enrolled in one of the armies fighting in Mexico. There were only two battles between American and Mexican forces on US soil: Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus in New Mexico in 1916 and the Battle of Ambos Nogales in Arizona in 1918.

After American soldiers were discharged by Mexican Republican troops, they attacked a garrison in the Mexican border town of Nogales. The Mexicans nevertheless surrendered after fighting and heavy losses on both sides. A few months earlier, a battle had taken place west of Nogales between the Americans and the Yaqui Indians, who were using Arizona as a base for raiding Mexican settlements. This battle is considered the last battle of numerous American-Indian wars.

Children of workers in the Great Depression

Cotton growing and copper mining, two major industries in Arizona's economy, were hit hard during the Great Depression. But in the 1920s and 1930s, tourism began to develop in Arizona, which is still one of the important industries. Ski resorts are located in the mountainous part, and hotels and ranches are located in the desert part, where they go to join the culture of the "Old West". During this time, hotels were built that are still the most popular in the state: the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in downtown Phoenix (opened in 1929) and the Teepee Restaurant west of Phoenix (opened in 1936).

Eleanor Roosevelt at Camp Gila

During World War II, Arizona was the site of German POW camps and Japanese American internment camps. Due to fear of a Japanese invasion of the West Coast and racial discrimination, the US government authorized the removal of all residents of Japanese origin from the states. West coast- Washington, Oregon and California. From 1942 to 1945 they were forced to live in internment camps in the interior of the United States, including Arizona. After the end of the war, everyone returned to their homes, but many lost their homes and businesses. One camp of German prisoners of war was located near the city of Phoenix, after the war it was acquired by the Maytag company (now the manufacturer of household appliances Whirlpool) and the Phoenix Zoo was built in its place. Another internment camp was located on Mount Lemmon near Tucson, and a third was located near the Gila River in eastern Yuma County.

Arizona was home to the Phoenix Indian School, one of several federal boarding schools designed to assimilate Native American children into Western culture. Children were often enrolled in these schools against the wishes of their parents and families. The suppression of Native American culture consisted of forcing them to shave their hair, take and use English names, speak only English, and practice Christianity instead of traditional Native American religions.

Numerous Native Americans from Arizona fought for the US in World War II. Their participation led to the fact that upon their return to the state they became much more active in fighting for their civil rights. Maricopa County denied registration to vote for Indian veterans Frank Harrison and Harry Austin of the Mohave Apache tribe of the Fort McDowell Reservation, then in 1948 they sued to challenge the discrimination. The lawsuit Harrison and Austin v. Lavin in the Arizona Supreme Court was decided in favor of the Native Americans, giving them real civil rights.

After World War II, the population of Arizona began to grow faster due to the development of business and the construction of housing stock. Of particular importance is the invention of air conditioning, thanks to which living in hot Arizona has become more comfortable. In 1910, Arizona's population was just under 300,000, growing 20% ​​per decade. By 1970, the population had reached 1.7 million, a 60% increase in a decade.

In the 1960s, retirement communities began to form. They have attracted many retirees from the Midwest and Northeast who come to Arizona from harsh winters. Many retirees from the US and Canada come to Arizona only for the winter months.

In March 2000, Arizona became the first state to hold elections over the Internet. It was the Democratic primary, and turnout was up 500% from previous ones.

Population

As of July 1, 2015, the population of Arizona, according to the US Census Bureau, was 6,828,065 people, an increase compared to 2010 was 6.82%.

Arizona remained sparsely populated for most of the 19th century. According to the 1860 census, Arizona County had a population of 6,482, of which 4,040 were Indians, 21 were free African Americans, and 2,421 were whites. In the 1990s, Arizona was almost the fastest growing US state (Nevada was in first place). Illegal immigrants are estimated to make up 7.9% of the state's population. The racial breakdown is as follows: 73% White, 4.6% Native American, 4.1% African American, 2.8% Asian, 11.9% other races.

From 1991 to 2001, the population of the state capital, Phoenix, increased by 45.3%. By 2010, the population of the Phoenix metropolitan area had reached 4.3 million, while that of the Tucson metropolitan area had reached 1 million. These two metropolitan areas together make up five-sixths of the state's population, with one Phoenix metropolitan area accounting for two-thirds.

Languages

Navajo cowboy in Monument Valley

72.9% of Arizona residents speak English at home English language, 20.8% Spanish, 1.48% Navajo, 0.39% German, 0.39% Chinese, 0.33% Tagalog, 0.30% Vietnamese, 0 .27% in other Native American languages ​​and 0.26% in French. In total, 27.1% of Arizona residents speak a language other than English.

Of the 48 contiguous states, Arizona has the largest number of Native American speakers. Over 85,000 people speak Navajo and 10,403 speak Western Apache. Apache County in Arizona has the highest concentration of Native Americans in the entire US.

Cities

The state capital and largest city is Phoenix, located in Maricopa County. And the Phoenix agglomeration also includes the cities of Mesa (the third most populous city in the state), Chandler (the fourth most populated), Glendale, Peoria, Buckeye, Sun City, Sun City West, Fountain Hills, Surprise, Gilbert, El Mirage, Avondale, Tempe, Toleson and Scottsdale. The population of the agglomeration is more than 4.3 million people, or two-thirds of the population of the entire state. The average July high temperature is over 41°C, making Phoenix the hottest state capital in the US. This, however, is offset by the fact that the average January high temperature is 19°C, giving Phoenix the mildest winters of any state capital.

Tucson, with a population of just over one million people, is the second most populated city in Arizona. It is located in Pima County, 180 kilometers southeast of Phoenix. Tucson incorporated in 1877, making it Arizona's oldest city. The University of Arizona is located in Tucson. In addition to Tucson itself, the agglomeration includes the Oro Valley and Marana in the northwest, Sahuarita in the south, and South Tucson in an enclave just south of the city center. The average temperature in July is 38°C and in January 18°C. To the west of the city in the Tucson Mountains is Saguaro National Park, the world's largest collection of saguaro cacti.

Capital of Arizona: Phoenix
Official name: State of Arizona (AZ)

Most Big City: Phoenix
Other major cities:
Gilbert, Glendale, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Mesa, Peoria, Preceott, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, Tucson (Tucson), Tempe, Flagstaff, Chandler, Yuma.
State nicknames: state Grand Canyon, Sunset State, American Italy
State motto: Freedom and union, now and forever, one and indivisible
State Formation Date: 1912 (48th in order)


The name of the state comes from the word of the Pima Indians transmitted by the Spaniards - “place of a small stream”, in the language of the Aztec tribe - “giving birth to silver”.
Arizona is located in the southwestern United States, bordering California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, New Mexico to the east, and Mexico to the south. The area of ​​the state is 295,254 km² (6th among the states of the country).
Arizona is quite a desert area. The territory of the state is located on several deserts - Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahua and Colored Desert. The rest of the land in Arizona is occupied by pine forests and mountains. Arizona's climate is characterized by mild winters and high temperatures during the summer.

State population

As of July 1, 2011, the population of Arizona is 6,482,505 according to the US Census Bureau; compared to the 2010 census figure, the increase was 1.42%. About 58% of Arizona's population lives in cities with more than 100,000 people (the highest rate of any state in the country).

Ethnic composition of the state

• white (73%),
• African Americans (4.1%)
• Native Americans (4.6%)
• Asians (2.8%)
• Hawaiians and Oceanians (0.2%),
• representatives of other races (11.9%),
• representatives of 2 or more races (3.4%)

The racial makeup of the state of Arizona

• White - 73%
• Native Americans (Indians or Eskimos of Alaska) - 4.6%
• Blacks (African Americans) - 4.1%
• Asians - 2.8%
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.2%
• Other races - 11.9%
• Two or more races - 3.4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race) - 29.6%

Arizona ranks third in the United States (after California and Oklahoma) in terms of the number of Native Americans living in the state.

State history

The territory of Arizona has been inhabited since ancient times by various nomadic Indian tribes. Later, the territory of the state was settled by the Navajo, Apache and Pueblo Indian tribes, belonging to one of the most developed tribes and having a high level of social organization. The first Europeans to visit this land were the Spaniards. These were the soldiers wrecked ship, led by Cabez de Vaca.
As a result of the Spanish-Mexican War of 1810-1821, the state came under the control of Mexico. Later, as a result of the American-Mexican War, the territory of the state was conquered by the Americans in 1848. In 1853, the United States bought more territory from Mexico, south of the coast the Gila River. On February 14, 1912, Arizona officially became a US state.
The state's economy depends on the extraction of minerals, mainly copper, according to this indicator, the state is in first place in the country. In addition, there is a developed aviation industry, electronics, optics production.

State Attractions

Mooney Falls, national reserve Grand Canyon, Arizona

Havasu Falls is one of the most beautiful and photographed waterfalls in the world. This one is stunning beautiful waterfall located in a remote canyon in Arizona

Hayden from Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Mushroom Rock near Page, Arizona

North Window (North Window), Arizona

Sand Hills, Coyote Butts, Vermilion Cliffs National Forest, Arizona

Sand Waves, Coyote Butts, Vermilion Cliffs National Forest, Arizona

Lake Powell - Arizona.

Ruins in the Navajo mountains. Arizona

View from Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Forest, Arizona

Phoenix. It almost never rains in this city.

Arizona state capital

Interesting Facts
The Grand Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The famous Apache Indian leader Geronimo lived in Arizona.
According to one version, the name of the state came from the language of the Papago Indian tribe; Aleh-zon can be translated as "little spring". According to another version, it comes from the word from the Aztec language, "arizuma", which can be translated as "giving birth to silver."
Because of the hot sun, the Navajo Indians call Phoenix Hoozdo, which can be translated as "a place where it's hot."
In Arizona, Maricop County police introduced the original punishment for drunk driving. Everyone who is caught in the act of a crime is required to wear a pink T-shirt with the words "I'm sober, I'm clean" for 2 months. In addition, the violator will not live at home, but in a special military camp and perform various public works there.

Ridiculous Laws of Arizona

A man may legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.
Any offense committed while wearing a red mask is considered a criminal offense.
It is forbidden to play cards on the street with a Native American.
Donkeys are not allowed to sleep in the baths.
Hayden: If you disturb American rabbits or bullfrogs, you will be fined.
Camel hunting is prohibited.
In Arizona, it is illegal to hold photographs of naked people before noon on a Sunday.
It is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have more than one missing tooth visible when smiling.
It is illegal to refuse a person a glass of water.
No more than six girls can live in one house.
It is illegal to smoke cigarettes within 15 feet of a public place unless you have a Class 12 liquor maker's license.
Anyone caught stealing soap must wash with it until it is used up.
The ordinance prohibits the wearing of braces.
No one is allowed to ride a horse up the stairs of the county courthouse.
For uprooting a cactus, they can be sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Women may not wear pants.
When attacked by a criminal or robber, you can only defend yourself with the same weapon with which you are attacked.
You cannot have more than two dildos in one house.

Arizona is a state located in the southwest of the country and became its forty-eighth state in 1912. Later, only Alaska and this picturesque territory were annexed - the city of Phoenix (or Phoenix - Phoenix), one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Arizona is famous for its unique wonder of nature - through which the Colorado River flows. In addition, there is something to be surprised at, because the landscape is exceptionally diverse and completely different from others. picturesque corners peace.

Story

The population of Arizona is about six and a half million people, among which the Indian group, the largest in the world, is more than four percent. These lands, after the Indians, were owned by the Spanish kingdom, then Mexico.

Thus, it turned out that Arizona is a state where three distinctive cultures have merged together: Indian, Spanish and English. The Indians, who previously were the undivided owners of all territories, now live in reservations, which make up no more than a third of all lands, in which there is a lot of reminders of these immemorial times. Indian country in northeast Arizona is famous for its huge and indescribable beauty De Chelly Canyon, where at least picturesque valley Monument Valley, numerous Pueblo ruins in Navajo lands. The villages of the Hopi Indians are located in remote mountainous areas, got lost between sheer cliffs. The mountains in the southeast are amazing and cinematically spectacular, where the last of the tribes that bowed to the white conquerors, the Apaches, settled. The name "Arizona" the state received precisely from the Indians. Symbolically, it translates as "short spring".

Transformations

In the 19th century, changes began in the course of shtetl life. The state of Arizona was not yet on the US map when significant deposits of minerals were discovered on these lands. At the same time, the development of agriculture began. As a result, the United States acquired a new territorial entity with densely populated metropolitan areas, a well-developed industry and numerous farms.

More about landscapes

Placer lakes and boundless stone deserts, mountain peaks, reaching the sun, and magnificent water meadows, narrow and deep canyons and high mountain plateaus - such is Arizona, a state of extraordinary contrasts, the most beautiful in America.

It is full of protected areas, for example, National parks and reserves of Pinted Desert, Petrified Forest, Rainbow Forest, Oak Creek Canyon, Coronado. Meade, with its nature on the Navajo Reservation, attracts countless crowds of tourists. The Santa Catalina Mountains with magnificent views are part of the National Forest Reserve.

cultural monuments

In the town of Lake Havasu City there is a real London bridge across the Colorado. It was brought from England and reassembled. At Montezuma Castle there is an archaeological site of the Pueblo culture with a magnificent museum. rock cities Tonto is the abode of Salado Indians, the most picturesque Tucson Sabino Canyon, and nearby is Saguaro (National Park) and the Museum of Wildlife.

There is also a film studio park, where almost all the early films were filmed.

Cities

In the south of Arizona, in the Valley of the Sun lies the city of Phoenix. Surrounded high mountains He seems to be the same height as them. Satellite cities have grown around it, bringing the total population of the state capital and surrounding cities to over four million. The tourism industry is well developed in fast growing resort towns like Tucson, Mesa, Chandler. Arizona is a fast growing state. No wonder the state motto sounds like "Get rich with God!"