9781422286227

Arizona

C alled the “Grand Canyon State,” Arizona is home to far more than its striking landscape. The desert blooms with large cities like Phoenix, acres of farmland thanks to irri- gation projects, and rich copper ore. No wonder its motto is Ditat Deus , or “God enriches.” Geography Covering 113,990 square miles (295,233 square kilometers), Arizona is the sixth-largest state in the United States. The Colorado River comprises most of Arizona’s western bor- der with California and Nevada. To the south lies Mexico. Utah borders Arizona to the north, while New Mexico lies to the east. Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona come together in a place known as “Four Corners.” The area is the only spot in the U.S. where four states touch. The Colorado Plateau covers the northern part of the state. Arroyos , buttes , canyons , and mesas dot the landscape. About six million years ago, the Colorado River began to carve the most well-known feature in this area, the Grand Canyon. It stretches

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