Arizona

Arizona is a large state in the western United States. It is perhaps best known for its desert landscape, which includes cacti. Arizona is also known for its very hot summers and mild winters. Perhaps less well known is the pine-covered high country in the north-central portion of the state, which contrasts with the lower deserts of the state.

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Arizona is one of the Four Corners states, situated south and east of the Colorado River. It borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, touches Colorado, and has a long international border with Mexico.

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Phoenix is the largest, primary city and capital of the state. The Phoenix metro area includes Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Tempe, and Scottsdale. The Phoenix metropolitan area supports a population of nearly 3.5 million. Tucson, is the state's second largest city, located southeast of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Tucson metropolitan area has a population rapidly nearing 1 million.

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Aside from the Grand Canyon, a number of other National Forests, Parks, Monuments, and Indian reservations are located in the state.

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Historians disagree about the origin of the name "Arizona" and its attachment to the region. Three possible derivations are:

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• O'odham words "alĭ ṣon" ("small spring"), actually the name of a town which is called "Arizonac" in English. Arizonac is a small town about eight miles (12 km) south of the United States–Mexican border. Historically, it may have been "alĭ son" or even "alĭ sona". The O'odham "l" is a voiced alveolar lateral fricative, which might sound to a Spanish or English speaker like an "r" sound. Later in the mid 18th century Spanish missionaries changed Father Eusebio Francisco Kino's maps of the area; they renamed the town Arizonac as Arizona. As the maps were republished and circulated in Europe, the name Arizona became attached to the whole northern part of New Spain.
• Spanish words "?rida zona" ("arid zone") However, this would be grammatically incorrect because in Spanish, the noun precedes the adjective.
• Nahuatl word "arizuma" ("silver bearing"). In 1736, a small silver-mining camp called "Real Arissona" by the Spanish was established near Arizonac.

The three ships named USS Arizona have been named in honor of the state, although only USS Arizona (BB-39) was so named after statehood was achieved.

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Arizona: History ►



 

State: :This article discusses states as sovereign political entities. For other meanings, see state (disambiguation)....

United States: :For other uses, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation)....

Desert: In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation, less than 250 mm per year.. Deserts have a reputation for supporting very little life. Compared to wetter regions this may be true, although upon closer examination, deserts often harbor a wealth of life that us...




Arizona related Images and Photos (experimental)

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