Arizona is located in the southwestern mountain subregions of the United States. Arizona is the sixth largest and the 14th most populous state in the US.Phoenix is the capital and largest city of this mesmerizing diverse state. Arizona shares borders with Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, New Mexico to the east, Nevada and California to the west, and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest respectively. The geographic center of Arizona is located in Yavapai County.The state of Arizona is dotted with ski resorts in Flagstaff, Alpine, and Tucson. Grand Canyon National Park boasts of being one among the seven wonders of the world. Apart from these, the region of Arizona is spotted with innumerable national parks, national forests, and national monuments. A state that keeps undergoing tremendous transformations is Arizona for the US.The Grand Canyon State is also a key educational hub that keeps its head high with the University of Arizona and the Arizona State University. Inclined to conservatism, the state has recently made a shift to Democrats in the past presidential and senatorial elections.After reading about the geography of Arizona marked by deep canyons and its Monument Valley national park, also check out Arizona agriculture facts and Arizona desert facts.Fun Facts About Arizona’s GeographyThe luminous state of Arizona has a bewitching beauty. Thanks to its geographical and climatic features for gifting this stupefying beauty to the state.Southern Arizona has a desert climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. In contrast, northern Arizona illuminates a winterly climate with its pines, Douglas firs, and spruce trees. The mountain ranges of San Francisco among a few others crown the Colorado plateau, along with extensive and cavernous canyons. The plateau region entails moderate summer temperatures and moderate winter snowfalls.Owing to the varied relief and climate, Arizona has quite a distinct expanse of vegetation. It has grasslands, woodlands, forests, and desert shrubs. The northern half of the state, falling between an altitude of 1,500-7,500 ft (454-2,272 m) is spotted with junipers, oaks, and chaparrals between an altitude of 4,000-6,000 ft (1,212-1,818 m). The Sonoran Desert and Colorado plateau have both lush-green and dry-coarse grasslands and shrubs. The southern grasslands are known for their Mesquite trees.In the Rocky Mountains and Great Mountains, black bears, deer, desert bighorns, antelopes, elk, wild pigs, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, turkeys, quails, doves, sawfishes, rattlesnakes, porcupines, venomous snakes, and foxes are the common species of fauna found over the physiographic divisions of the state.The Sonoran Desert is spread across Mexico and the United States. The Colorado Desert and the Yuma Desert are situated to the northwest of Arizona.Facts About Arizona’s ClimateBeholding a manifold of topographical and geographic divisions, it’s obvious that varied facets of climatic conditions dwell within the Arizona range.While other parts of America have tropical, sub-tropical, and cold climatic conditions, Arizona has mostly arid to semi-arid conditions. The basin and range have arid and semi-arid sub-tropical climatic conditions which are mostly pleasant. In the months of January and February, Phoenix records a maximum temperature of 65 °F (18.3 °C). The winters here are all about light precipitation and mild frosts while springs are dry and falls are mildly dry. A desert climate is experienced over much of the region with the daily temperature ranging from 106 °F (41.1 °C) and night temperatures dropping to 81 °F (27.2 °C). The moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean blow over Arizonian regions in July and are often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms referred to as the summer monsoon. The precipitation rates here vary from 1 in (2.5 cm) in July to 3 in (7.6 cm) all along the summer months. Winter rains come from the Pacific. Arizona is described as the ‘Sunniest State of America’.Facts About Arizona’s Mountain RangesArizona has unparalleled beauty in its lofty, undulating mountain ranges. Let’s explore facts on these mountain ranges further!The Colorado plateau and the basin and range province are the two major physiographic divisions along with the central highlands. Northeastern regions of St. Jones, Winslow, and Window Rock fall under the picturesque Colorado plateau. These tablelands are spotted with rugged escarpments, canyons, and basins. The plateau is jeweled with the Grand Canyon, forest-clad volcanic mountains like that of Humphreys Peak, San Francisco Mountains, Baldy Mountains, and the White Mountains.The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is easily traversable. The Colorado plateau is marked by giant escarpments of Mogollon Rim, canyons, and valleys crisscrossing the transition zone and basin and range province. The transition zone is topped with plateau blocks, rugged peaks, and jagged peaks.Also, the zone is the ecological border demarcating low deserts and forested segments of Arizona. The basin and range region of the southern and western parts of the state, lolling over regions of Chandler, Gilbert, Lake Havasu, Lake Powell, and Dateland is characterized by broad open basins, abyssal and spectral valleys, and mountains.Facts About Rivers in ArizonaThe state of Arizona lies in the heartland of the Colorado River drainage system. The Gila River with its feeder stream the Salt River is an important tributary of the Colorado River. The Black, White, and Verde rivers are perennial rivers that join the Gila River from the southwest gateway of Phoenix.Beginning its journey from New Mexico, the river has numerous other tributaries like Mogollon Rim and San Francisco rivers. Santa Cruz and San Pedro from southern Arizona are two rivers that flow northward and join hands with the Gila River. The intermittent streams of Agua Fria and Hassayampa rivers meet the river southwards.The Little Colorado River runs from southeast to northwest into the Colorado River between Marble Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Sadly, the river mostly remains dry due to the presence of humongous canyons that bring in rain shadow effects. Rivers like the Bill Williams River flow through the arid parts of western Arizona.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Arizona geography facts then why not take a look at Arizona dust storms facts or Arizona economy facts.
Arizona is located in the southwestern mountain subregions of the United States. Arizona is the sixth largest and the 14th most populous state in the US.
