Travel Information for Arizona
Posted By:
Travel Commune Staff
on 1 December, 2006
Located in the Southwestern United States, the state of Arizona is best known for its geographical highlights but is also home to rich cultural diversity and bustling cities. In Arizona, you'll find desert landscape in the South, the pine-laden mountains in the North, and of course, the Grand Canyon in the Northwest. Throughout the state, you'll also find several Native American reservations and the sixth largest city in the United States, Phoenix. Because this state has so much to offer its visitors, including a year-round warm climate in most areas, Arizona draws many tourists during every season.
Because only 15 percent of Arizona's total 118,000 square miles is privately owned, the state has many areas preserved by the government, including national parks and forests. The most well known and oldest national park in the state is the Grand Canyon National Park, located in the Northwest portion of the state. The Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, is one of the major natural wonders of the world and brings visitors from around the world to marvel at its incredible depth. Besides the Grand Canyon, many National Forests are located in the northern part of Arizona. Total, the state has six national forests: Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Prescott, and Tonto. These forests feature various kinds of pine trees, including the natively Western Ponderosa pine, and many other smaller canyons. Located in Northeastern Arizona is a National Petrified Forest, which is a fascinating natural showcase of petrified wood and fossils.
While much of the northern part of Arizona has mountains, plateaus, and forests, one of the state's most well known deserts is found in the South. The Organ Pipe Cactus is a National Monument located in the Sonoran Desert, which is located in Southwestern Arizona just by the Mexican border. People come to the Organ Pipe National Monument and Sonoran Desert to go camping, RVing, hiking, or just wildlife observation. The Sonoran Desert is home to the twenty-six different species of cacti plus animals and birds like the Sonoran Proghorn, Pygmy Owls, and Gila Woodpecker.
Along with its national parks and forests, Arizona also has Native American reservations that are provide the visitor a close look into both past and present Native American culture. The state of Arizona is home to over 20 Indian tribes. Some reservation lands include the Navajo Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Tohono O'odham Nation, and many more. At these reservation lands, you can see beautiful preserved land and many natural wonders. Also, authentic Native American art and crafts are available at these reservations for purchase.
Even though much of Arizona is dedicated to natural beauty, you'll still find many attractions and general things to do in the state's metropolitan areas. Arizona's major metropolitan cities include Tucson, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Peoria, and its capital, Phoenix, among others.
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