Those wishing to see the Grand Canyon with their own eyes should go straight to Arizona. It is famous for its natural beauty and hot climate. At any time of the year, tourists will find interesting sights and unusual places here.

On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state in the United States. With an area of ​​295,254 km2, the state ranks 6th in the nation. It is home to over 6 million Americans of various ethnic origins. The largest city and capital at the same time is Phoenix. Its population is almost 1.5 million people.

The indigenous inhabitants of the state of Arizona are the Indians of several large tribes: Hohokam, Anasazi, Mogollon, etc. For the first time, Europeans entered these lands as early as 1528. But due to the fact that Arizona was not rich in minerals, this territory was not cultivated and not settled by Europeans. Since the 16th century, the future state was a colony of Spain, but for a long time its only inhabitants were Indians. In 1821, Arizona passed into the possession of Mexico, which gained independence. And 32 years later, the United States bought it.

Features of geography and climate

Arizona has a very diverse topography, represented by mountains, plateaus, forests and deserts. The state is landlocked, but the Colorado River and its Grand Canyon are world famous. Arizona is one of the corner states of the United States and, in addition to other territories belonging to America, borders on Mexico.

A large area causes a variety of climates in different parts of Arizona. In the southwestern region, there are predominantly warm winters and hot spring-summer months. In the northern regions, the climate is completely different: it is quite cold here in winter, snow can fall, in summer the climate is mild, characterized by a large amount of precipitation.

Population and religion

Most of the population of Arizona has Mexican roots. This is due to the proximity of Mexico and the fact that it once belonged to these territories. This is followed by representatives of Germany, Ireland and England.

As in most US states, Christianity is widespread here, divided in several directions. Catholics predominate. A fairly large percentage (17%) are atheists and representatives of other faiths (there are as many as 25% here).

Features of the economy

The economy of Arizona is developed at a high level and ranks 21st in the United States. The most important branches:

• Copper mining (first place in the country)
• mining industry
• Agriculture (Arizona is famous for growing cotton, cauliflower, citrus fruits)
• Tourism (Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in the United States)

In recent years, the industry has been actively developing here. There were factories for the manufacture of components for computers. Aerospace production is on the rise.

Major educational institutions

Arizona State University is rightfully considered the largest in America. It is interesting that initially it had the status of a school, then a college. And only in 1958 it received the status of a university as a result of a popular vote - the only precedent in US history. Known for its research focus and major scientific projects.

Second place goes to the University of Arizona. He has great achievements in the field of astrophysics and astronomy. It has more than one observatory in Arizona.

The most interesting sights

Tourists from all over the world seek to get to Arizona to see:

grand canyon, considered one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (its depth is 1800 m)

Characterized by an unusual wavy relief

Crater from a giant meteorite

– National park with a large number of fossils from different historical periods

An observation tower that allows you to admire the eastern part of the Grand Canyon from a height of four floors

In addition, Arizona has several national parks, large observatories, and unusual architectural structures of different years.

Watch the video about our trip to the Grand Canyon:

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

Largest 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: Grand Canyon State, 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 a population of more than 100 thousand 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. They were soldiers from the 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 banks of 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, the aviation industry, electronics, and the production of optics are developed here.

State Attractions

Mooney Falls, Grand Canyon National Forest, Arizona

Havasu Falls is one of the most beautiful and photographed waterfalls in the world. This stunningly beautiful waterfall is 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.

And New Mexico. The state capital is Phoenix. The big cities are Tucson and Mesa. This state is inhabited by almost 6.5 million inhabitants, and its territory includes 15 counties. Arizona became part of the United States of America in 1912 and became the 48th in a row.

This state is known for its huge massif of yellow pine, there are also plateaus, deserts and mountains. Tucson, Phoenix and Yuma are located in the Sanora Desert. The Grand Canyon is located in the northern part of the state. Twice a year in this state the rainy season. The main territory of the state is located in the Colorado basin, but at the same time there are the Mojave, Colored and Chihuahua deserts. In general, the climate of the state is warm and mild, although in each region it differs from each other. But winters in Arizona are quite cold, temperatures can reach almost -20°C.

Arizona ranks first among other states in terms of the number of people who speak and speak Indian languages. There is a fairly large percentage of illegal immigrants (almost 8% of residents). The majority of the state's population professes Catholicism, but other religions are also very developed here.

Arizona is known for its copper, in this state 2/3 of the mineral of the entire country is mined. The largest field in the state is San Manuel. But besides this, softwood lumber is also produced here, animals are bred, vegetables and cotton are grown. It produces aircraft instruments and guided missiles, as well as computer equipment and optics. There are many military bases in the desert.

Arizona does not have such a variety of tourist places, but those places that are, are the most unique works of nature. The main wonder of the state of Arizona, including the world, is the Grand Canyon, the depth of which reaches 1800 meters, it was formed by the Colorado River. Every year only this place is visited by a huge number of people who want to see one of the unique places in the world. The walls of the canyon represent columns and pyramids of different colors. This spectacle is simply unique.

"Petrified Forest"

Even in the state, you can visit Monument Valley, where you can see rocks of various bizarre shapes that stick out of the ground.

Another unique place in the state is the Petrified Forest National Park, where the remains of trees that are more than 2 million years old are stored.

And on the north side of the park is the Painted Desert, which radiates different colors due to the presence of minerals in the soil.

Similar posts

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 conditions, flora and fauna here depend on the depth.

Petrified Forest National Park, where 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 tourist destination in Arizona. 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. The average temperature in the autumn-spring period is 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. A large amount of sawn timber (mainly softwood) is produced.

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 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A deep fissure snakes through the state of Arizona for more than four hundred kilometers. The Canyon owes its appearance to two rivers - the Colorado and the Walpay, which for many millions of years have been cutting through the sandy-stony land of the plateau. The wind polishing their surfaces also took part in the architecture of the ornate walls. The many stony rocks that open up in layers as the Canyon forms fill it with all sorts of iridescent hues.

You can enjoy fantastic landscapes by visiting one of the greatest reserves in the United States - the Grand Canyon National Park. The area of ​​the park covers almost five thousand square kilometers. The most visited area is the southern edge of the Canyon, where the most popular vantage points are located.

Of course, it is impossible to survey the entire Canyon, stretching from horizon to horizon. Previously, those wishing to see the panorama of the Grand Canyon on a large scale had to fork out for a helicopter tour. Architecture came to the aid of nature: in 2007, a completely transparent bridge was opened over a 1220-meter abyss, from which a truly breathtaking view opens.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon got its name due to the reddish-red walls resembling the skin of an animal. The bizarre relief of the canyon is filled during the day with light pouring from numerous cracks. For several centuries, water and wind have carved depressions in the red sandstone. Rare heavy rains flood the canyon, washing away the top layer of sand - thus, the water forms an amazing internal relief of the rocks.

Antelope Canyon lies on the lands of the Navajo tribe and belongs to the Indians of this tribe. To get there, you need to pay a toll for passing through Indian territory.

Favorite place for photographers: surprisingly, the colors and bizarre rock patterns in the pictures look more colorful and fantastic than they really are.

What sights of Arizona did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Sonoran Desert

Sonora is one of the largest and driest deserts in North America. It covers the territory of Arizona, California and the northwestern part of Mexico, which in total is more than 320,000 kilometers. On its territory is the Saguaro National Park, which includes the deserts of Colorado, Yuma and Lechugilla.

Despite the arid climate, Sonora is not completely covered with sand. More than sixty species of animals and more than a hundred species of birds live here. Only in this region of North America are found Jaguars and huge Saguaro cacti, more characteristic of Mexico. 17 Indian tribes live in the desert on reservations, preserving their ancient customs and customs.

The largest city is Phoenix with about 4 million people. The Coachella Valley is home to about 365,000 people and is home to several of the major southern resorts. Among them are Palm Springs and Palm Desert, known for their mild climate, when the temperature does not fall below 21 and does not rise above 32 degrees. Here, mango, citrus and fig trees are grown in orchards.

The Colored Desert, in the northern part of Arizona, in the USA, is one of the most amazing places on our planet. This is a large part of the North American Colorado Plateau. The most beautiful colored hills stretch along the Little Colorado River and form an absolutely incredible landscape. This desert is part of the famous Grand Canyon and is part of the Petrified Trees National Park.

The name of the desert was first used in 1858 by Lieutenant Joseph Eves, as he described the color bands of red, yellow, white, blue and lilac. The hot desert air sometimes turns into a pink mist or purple haze as colored dust rises into the air. Together, all the colors form an amazing rainbow that stretches across the desert, as if colored waves are pouring over the hills.

It took millions of years for nature to create this amazing canvas. Faults in the earth's crust, ocean waters, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, erosion and sun rays - these are just a few of the factors that worked on this amazing picture and created one of the most unique landscapes on the planet.

Havasu waterfall

The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing places on our planet. At first it may seem that this is a monotonous place, where the relief is represented only by reddish rocks and rocky formations of bizarre shape. But that's not the case at all. The Grand Canyon is fraught with many amazing landscapes, among which the gem is the emerald Havasu Falls.

Many have seen it on postcards or calendars, but not many have been able to see it live. Havasu is located a kilometer from the Indian village of Supai, so it is often called "Havasupay" as well.

A few decades ago, the waterfall was called the Wedding Veil and was about 70 meters wide. But a severe flood changed the course of the waterfall to its present appearance. First of all, the impossible green-emerald color of the water is striking, which is constantly changing due to the high content of minerals in the water.

The falling water forms a large clear pool, pleasant for swimming on a hot day. The water in it does not fall below 21 degrees. A spacious sandy beach was formed on the shore, gradually leaving under the shade of trees.

glen canyon

Glen Canyon is one of the most popular American vacation spots. In 1956, the construction of a dam began here, as a result of which Lake Powell was formed - the second largest reservoir in the United States.

The picturesque coastline of the lake is dotted with capes and cliffs, and sheer walls of red-orange sandstone rise above the surface of the water. All these formations are part of the once magnificent landscape - the Glen Canyon with majestic arches, caves, gorges, hills that have gone under water.

The Glen Canyon Recreation Area spans hundreds of miles and covers an area of ​​over 4,000 square kilometers. It offers vacationers boating, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, walking, cycling and car tours.

Among the main attractions of Glen Canyon Park, in addition to Lake Powell, the Rainbow Bridge, which is known as the world's largest natural bridge, is very popular. Beautiful landscapes can be enjoyed while admiring the Orange Cliffs - this is a dry desert, the temperature difference in which ranges from +43 degrees to -29 degrees in winter.

At Lee Ferry, you can ride a ferry along the Colorado River, and walk or take a boat along the Escalante River.

Lake Powell

The artificial Lake Powell was created in 1956 when the Colorado River was dammed in Glen Canyon. The resulting reservoir was named after explorer John Wesley Powell, who in 1869 was the first to explore the Colorado coast in the area and described the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Lake Powell is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world.

Despite the fact that ancient landscapes were flooded as a result of the construction of the Powell Dam and Reservoir, it fits quite organically into the surrounding landscape. The shores of the lake are framed by sheer canyon walls made of bright orange, red and white sandstone. The rich color palette of the rock formations blends beautifully with the blue-green waters of the Powell Reservoir.

Since 1972, the lake has been part of a recreational area and is considered a national treasure of the United States. Tourists coming here have extensive opportunities for outdoor activities - boating, exploring the surroundings from the observation deck. For lovers of photography, there is an opportunity to take beautiful pictures in the morning and evening, and even at night, when you can capture the movement of stars in the sky.

Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of Arizona? .

London Bridge in Arizona

In 1968, an American businessman from Missouri, Robert McCulloch, bought the old London Bridge destined for demolition. The crossing was dismantled and transported to the United States, stone blocks were mounted as cladding in the reinforced concrete supporting structure of the bridge installed near the canal near the city of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Prior to this, the London Bridge served as a crossing over the Thames for about 140 years, it was the first and for a long time remained the only bridge in London, survived two wars with their terrible destruction.

The bridge cost the entrepreneur 2.5 million dollars, and its transportation took more than 3 years. But it was worth it: construction gradually developed around the bridge in Lake Havasu City, and the flow of tourists increased.

The most popular attractions in Arizona with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Arizona on our website.