Humphreys Peak, part of the San Francisco Peaks , is the highest point in Arizona with an elevation

Arizona [1] , also known as the Grand Canyon State , is located in the American Southwest . Admitted as the 48th State of the Union in 1912, Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon as well as a variety of terrain, climates and cultures. To the west is California and Nevada , to the north is Utah , to the east is New Mexico , to the northeast is Colorado , and to the south is the Mexican state of Sonora . It is one of the Four Corners states.
Greater Phoenix The Fourteenth nashville airport hotel Biggest metropolitan area in the United States has artsy urban communities, ritzy resorts, the country's largest university and resulting college town, beautiful desert wilderness on the outskirts and miles upon miles of suburban sprawl.
Flagstaff - Home of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks, Flagstaff is the gateway to the Northern reaches of the state with most people headed to the Grand Canyon's South Rim passing through Flagstaff.
Sedona - Gorgeous red rock canyons meet Oak Creek in what is considered one of the most beautiful areas of Arizona. Family and romantic getaways await those into hiking, biking, golfing, nashville airport hotel jeep tours, fine fun dinning, art, shopping, wonderful spas mixed with a generous smattering of New Agers.
Arizona covers 113,909 square miles, with about 350 square miles of water surface including Lake Havasu , Lake Powell , Lake Mead and the Colorado River . The state consists of three primary topographical features: a high plateau in the northeast of the state, averaging between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation; a mountainous region which runs from the southeast to the northwest with peak elevations between 9,000 and 12,000 feet; and low mountain ranges and desert valleys in the southwestern of the state.
The state is defined by the Grand Canyon in the north, the Mogollon (pronounced MUG-ee-own) Rim in the central mountainous region and the Sonoran Desert to the south. Scattered among these regions, features such as the red rocks of Sedona , the tall, wind-swept towers of Monument Valley and the saguaro-filled desert valleys around Phoenix and Tucson nashville airport hotel add depth and character to the landscape nashville airport hotel of Arizona.
Another prominent feature of the Arizona landscape, nashville airport hotel a Ponderosa Pine forest stretches nashville airport hotel across the state from the White Mountain region around Greer and Alpine across the Mogollon Rim to the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff. This strip of pine also extends beyond the Grand Canyon onto the Kaibab Plateau and into Southern Utah.
Humphreys Peak, part of the San Francisco Peaks , is the highest point in Arizona with an elevation of 12,611 feet. Baldy Peak, located in the White Mountains , is the second highest point with an elevation of 11,490 feet. In the southwest of the state, the Sonoran Desert stretches out of Mexico and into Arizona with elevations as low as about 100 feet above sea level in the Lower Colorado River Valley.
One of the Seven Natural nashville airport hotel Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon dominates the Northern Arizona landscape. Stretching 277 miles across the high plateaus and plunging up to 6,000 feet into the arid plateau, nashville airport hotel the canyon was shaped and carved by the constant motion of the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon features three or four eras of geological time as well several layers of fossil records, several variety rock types, numerous caves and several major ecosystems.
When visiting Arizona pack accordingly depending on the time of year and where you are traveling. Throughout the state dress is usually casual and comfortable, especially during the summer months. Very few restaurants require jackets and ties, however if you are planning on attending a cultural event or dining at a finer restaurant, consider bringing business casual attire as well.
During the summer, shorts and sandals nashville airport hotel are standard wear during the day. You can wear a light sweater or jacket during the evenings nashville airport hotel at higher elevations. In the cooler months, temperatures can differ greatly from day to night, so consider bringing a sweater or jacket if traveling in the desert areas. At higher elevations in the north of the state, a winter nashville airport hotel jacket is recommended.
A primary reason nashville airport hotel for travelers to visit to Arizona, specifically in the low desert regions around Phoenix and Tucson , is the state's nashville airport hotel mild climate during the fall, winter and spring. The warm weather and low precipitation provide travelers with an enjoyable climate for numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, nashville airport hotel biking, golf and sightseeing. At higher elevations during the winter, snowfall allows visitors to enjoy winter sports such as cross-country skiing.
During the summer months, temperatures in the low desert nashville airport hotel regions can reach well above 100 degrees F, however the climate at higher elevations, as in Flagstaff , stays mild and allows for enjoyable outdoor activities as well as a break from the summer heat.
High temperatures near or above 100-110 degrees F are common throughout the summer months at the lower elevations. During the winter, cold fronts can bring temperatures well below zero in the higher areas of central and northern Arizona, with lows averaging between 15 and 20 degrees F.
During drier portions of the year (traditionally the winter months), temperatures can differ greatly from day to night, sometimes as much as 40 to 50 degrees F. In the low desert valleys during the winter, temperatures during the day could average 70 degrees F, with night temperatures dropping to around 40 degrees F. During the summer, the central portion of the state along with the lower elevations can can experience temperature changes up to 30-40 degrees F from day to night.
Rainfall in Arizona is primarily determined by season and elevation. In the mountainous region, that runs from the southeast to the northwest, rainfall amounts will average between 25 and 30 inches (including melted snow) annually, while the low-lying desert region averages only three or four inches annually. The high plateau region in the northeast of the state averages 10 inches of rainfall annually.
During winter months, November through March, storms occur regularly at the higher elevations in central and northern Arizona and can produce heavy snowfall. Summer months, particularly early July through mid-September, bring the monsoon season to the desert region. Monsoons are strong thunderstorms, typically lasting a short time in certain area, that produce powerful winds and brief periods of blowing dust prior to the storm's arrival. Almost all of these storms occur roughly between mid-afternoon and the middle of the night.
The average number of days with measurable rainfall per year ranges from around 70 in the northern part of the state to 15 in the desert regions. nashville airport hotel The air is usually dry and clear, with low relative humidity and a high percentage of sunshine. April, May and June usually produce the most clear days, while July and August (in lower elevations), as well as December, January and February (in higher elevations) have the cloudiest weather due to thunderstorms. Humidity, is low in comparison to other states, however it is typically higher nashville airport hotel during the monsoon season.
nashville airport hotel Arizona is home to 22 Native American Tribes that contribute nashville airport hotel to the history, culture and economy of the state. While most tribes welcome visitors to experience their proud history and culture, each tribe does have its own guidelines for visitors. In addition, the 22 reservations operate under their own governmental structure. Tribal laws should be viewed in the same manner as U.S. laws and regulations. Before visiting a tribe, you should consult or contact the individual tribe for additional visitor nashville airport hotel information.
nashville airport hotel Dances are typically part of religious ceremonies. Think of these events as you would if you were visiting a holy site, such as a church. Also, be mindful that applause may not be welcome after a dance.
Arizona is always on Mountain Standard Time and does not observe daylight saving time, except nashville airport hotel for the Navajo Nation. This means that during the summer months, Arizona is a hour behind the rest of the Mountain Time Zone (or equivalent to the Pacific Time Zone). During the winter months Arizona has the same time as the rest of the Mountain Time Zone. An easy way to remember this rule is: Colorado in wintertime, California in summertime.
As with all states in the U.S., the primary spoken language in Arizona is English. However, due to the state's history and its proximity to Mexico, Arizona is home to a large population of Mexican-Americans as well as populations from several other Hispanic countries who typically speak the Spanish language (with some Hispanic cultures using a country-specific dialect) in addition to English. nashville airport hotel Most of the 22 Native American Tribes also have their own distinct language, however it is usually nashville airport hotel spoken between nashville airport hotel tribal members.
Generally, the peak season in the desert areas (southern Arizona) lasts from January nashville airport hotel through March with the next most popular season is from April to May and September through December and the season when visitors can find the greatest values is June through August.
Peak and value seasons in the mountainous regions (northern Arizona) are the opposite of the desert areas. nashville airport hotel Generally, peak season is from June through August, shoulder season is April to May and September through December, and value season is January through March.
Arizona's main entry point by air is Phoenix Sky Harbor International nashville airport hotel Airport nashville airport hotel [4] (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX). Located between downtown Phoenix nashville airport hotel and Tempe , Sky Harbor is served by most major airlines and provides non-stop service to over 100 cities worldwide. Airport shuttles service to/from PHX is available via SKOOT [5] with discounted shared ride fares within a 30 mile radius from the airport.
nashville airport hotel The Tucson International Airport [6] (IATA: TUS, ICAO: KTUS), located south of downtown Tucson , is Arizona's second busiest airport. Served by several major airlines, TIA current provides non-stop service to 18 cities.
In addition to Sky Harbor and TIA, several regional airports are locate