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Researched by Ashley S. |
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Arizona is known as the “Grand Canyon State”,
because of its most famous landmark. Arizona touches Utah, Colorado,
and New Mexico. The unique part of this is that they all meet at
a point called the Four Corners. Arizona also touches California and
Nevada.
Climate
Arizona has warm and sunny weather. About 80% of the days are very
sunny. Temperatures differ depending on the elevation. Higher
elevations are cooler. In winter the temperatures are usually 60
degrees F., but in the summer in the deserts the temperatures can get
over 100 degrees F. Arizona has a very dry climate. In the deserts they
only receive 2 inches of rain a year, but in the mountains they usually
get 30 inches.
Geography
There are three geographic regions in Arizona. The first region is the
Colorado Plateau, which is made up of flat highlands and covers most of
northern Arizona. The second region is the central mountains, which are
made up of mountain ranges and large ponderosa pine forests. The
Central Mountains are also known as the Transition zone. The third
region is called the Basin and Range region. This region has both
mountains and deserts and covers most of southern Arizona.
History
Before 500 A.D. there were only Native American tribes in Arizona. This
was before the arrival of European explorers and settlers. In A.D. 500
Hohokam culture developed in central and southwestern Arizona. In 1539
Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan friar, and Esteban de Dorantes, a black
Moorish slave, were the first Europeans to explore Arizona. In 1540
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led and expedition into Arizona and
claimed it for Spain. Part of his group had reached the Grand Canyon.
In 1619 Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit priest, began his missionary labors in
southern Arizona. In 1752 the first non-native American settlement
called Tubacis was started. In 1821 Mexico took control of Arizona from
Spain. In 1848 most of Arizona came under U.S. control. In 1853 the
United States bought southern Arizona in the Gadsden Purchase. In 1854
copper was found in Arizona. In 1857 the first stagecoach line crossed
Arizona. In 1863 the Arizona Territory was established. In 1867 Phoenix
was founded. In 1881 the O.K. Corral gunfight took place in Tombstone
Arizona. In 1886 the fighting between Native Americans and whites ended
with Geronimo’s surrender. In 1919 the Grand Canyon National Park was
established. In 1936 Hover Dam was completed. In 1985 the Central
Arizona Project went into operation. In 1988 Rose Mafford became the
state’s first female governor.
Soils
The usefulness of soil in Arizona entirely depends on irrigation. When
the soil is irrigated the red soil from the south and southwest support
agricultural activity. The soil in the mountain ranges is mostly thin
and easily swept away by the wind. Some parts of the Colorado Plateau
have reddish-brown, brownish clays and sandy loams. The most fertile
soil is in the Salt River and Gila River Valleys.
Plant Life
The Sonoran Desert is known for its cacti. All things that grow in the
desert zone must be a species such as the cacti. Above the desert is a
zone of grassland. In this zone there are needle grasses, tobosa grass,
and grama grass, whose leaves look like flattened bunches of green
bananas.
Crops
The most valuable crop in Arizona is cotton. It is one of the leading
cotton producing states. Widely grown vegetables in Arizona are
lettuce, cantaloupes, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, onions, and
carrots. The year-round warm weather makes it possible for northern
states to have vegetables during the off seasons. The other crops are
lemons, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, wheat, hay, melons, barley, corn
and grapes.
Livestock
In Arizona 56% of the land area is used for grazing. The
Spaniards, who brought cattle, sheep and horses, recognized this
potential. In better-watered areas there were huge ranches
established. At one point during the Civil War the herds wandered at
will in the open range.
Forestry
In the last quarter of the 19th century the lumber industry in Arizona
began. The demand for railroad ties by the Atlantic and Pacific line
was huge so that encouraged Edward E. Ayers to found a sawmill in 1881.
Now that Arizona has much more forest conservation indiscriminate
cutting is now largely avoided. The species that are most often cut now
are ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and several varieties of oak.
Mining
The chief minerals produced in Arizona are copper, coal, sand and
gravel, lime, and cement. Arizona is the leading state in producing
copper. Arizona is also is the country’s second biggest producer of
perlite, which is a volcanic glass. When it is expanded by heat, it
forms an aggregate used in plaster and that is added to the soil of
plotted plants. Arizona is fourth among the states in the production of
silver.
Native Americans
The Native Americans have a relatively large community in Arizona. In
20th century their numbers have increased steadily, from less than
26,500in 1900 to 255,900 in 2000. The huge majority of Arizona’s Native
Americans live on reservations. There are a number of tribes, which
include Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Pima, Tohono O’Odham, Havasupai, Mohave,
Maicopa, Yavapai, and Walapai Tribes. Most of the Native Americans are
Navajo.
Religion
The largest religious group in Arizona is the Roman Catholics with one
quarter of all church members. The biggest Protestant denominations are
the Baptist, Methodists, and Mormons. The Mormons began to colonize
northern Arizona in the 1970’s. Some communities were established along
the Little Colorado River. Protestant churches were in the Arizona
territory.
Music and Theater
Arizona has the Phoenix Symphony. It is a full-time professional
orchestra. It performs throughout the state. There is also the
professional Arizona Theatre Company, which has the opera and ballet.
Scientific Research
Because of the unusual physical features in Arizona, such as the Grand
Canyon, the state provides very good geological research. The many
Native American ruins made it possible for archaeological and
anthropological studies. The Biosphere 2 Center is a place where people
can study these things. The Biosphere 2 Center includes an enormous
self-contained greenhouse for studying the interrelated systems that
make up the earth’s environments.
National Forests
There are six national forests in Arizona. They cover a total of about
4.5 million hectares (about 11.2 million acres). The largest is
the Tonto National Forest with about 3 million acres. There is also
Kaibab National Forest, which is in the Colorado plateau. In the
Prescott National Forest is the ghost town named Jerome. The other
three are the Apache National Forest, Cocoonino National Forest and
Coronado National Forest.
Annual Events
Year round warm weather allows outdoor festivals throughout the year.
About 150 balloons or more are in the Scottsdale Thunderbird Balloon
Classic and Air Show that happens in November. The Fiesta Bowl Parade
is the biggest parade in Arizona. It features lots of floats, marching
bands and horse units marching down Phoenix streets in December.
Sports
Arizona has five major professional sports teams. They have the Arizona
Cardinals (football), the Phoenix Suns (men’s basketball), the Phoenix
Mercury (women’s basketball), the Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball), and
the Phoenix Coyotes (ice hockey).
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