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Top 10 Facts about Arizona state

Arizona is the 14th most populous and the 6th most extensive of the 50 states of the U.S. This state is landlocked and lies in the south-western.

Historically, Arizona was part of Alta California in New Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. Mexico ceded after it was defeated in the Mexican–American War and therefore Arizona was made an American territory in 1848.

It attained statehood in 1912, becoming the 48th state to join the union. Its nickname is the Copper State and it has 15 counties.

Arizona is a superb destination when it comes to enjoying a sun-filled vacation and incredible natural beauty.

This is the home to the Grand Canyon where millions of tourists visit annually. There are other renowned national parks, exciting cities and rich Native American history.

Learn more about this state in the top 10 facts about Arizona State.

1. Arizona State is home to the Grand Canyon

Photo by Luca Galuzzi – Wikimedia

When you think of Arizona, the first thing that crosses your mind is the Grand Canyon. The stone structures here have several shades of red, orange, and yellow.

These are usually the enigmatic images one gets when visiting the United States.

Several tourists love to visit the South Rim because of its incredible views from the roadside. Additionally, there are walkways along the canyon’s edge.

The North Rim is only accessible in summer. there is a glass bridge from Eagle Point at Grand Canyon West.

The Grand Canyon is approximately 10 miles across and a mile deep along its 277-mile length. Within the Canyon are Colorado River white-water rapids and sweeping vistas.

2. Arizona is home to the most well-preserved meteorite impact site

Photo by Roddy – Wikimedia

Arizona State has one of the most well-preserved meteorite impact sites in the world. This site was created around 50,000 years ago.

The site is known as the Barringer Meteorite Crater. It is a huge hole in the middle of the high plains of the Colorado Plateau.

When you visit the site, you will see shattered and messy boulders, some as huge as houses. They are huge, measuring about 46 metres tall above the surrounding plain.

There have been attempts to make this landmark public, however, it remains to be private property. Therefore, it is not protected as a national monument

The property is owned by the Barringer family

3. The largest aperture solar telescope is found in Arizona

Another first in Arizona is the largest aperture solar telescope located at the Kitt Peak National Observatory.

At Kitt Peak, you will get to see an assembly of astronomical instruments set on top of the Quinlan Mountains in the Sonora desert.

It is the biggest astronomical observatory in North America. The land where the observatory is located was leased by the National Science Foundation in 1958.

The land was originally owned by the Tohono O’odham tribe. They were opposed to having the centre there stating that the ray detectors would disturb the spirits of their ancestors.

There are more than twenty optical and two radio telescopes found here. This makes it one of the largest gatherings of astronomical instruments in the northern hemisphere.

4. A village in Arizona receives mail via a mule

At the bottom of the Grand Canyon is a small remote village known as Supai. This is the only place in the United States where mail is delivered by a mule.

It is referred to as the most remote community by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 210 people are living in that village.

For anyone wishing to get to the village, the only accessible way is by hiking, riding a horse or taking a helicopter.

A series of mules, known as mule trains, deliver packages and letters. Each mail that leaves the village has a special postmark.

Supai village is part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The Havasupai tribe has lived here for more than 1,000 years. 

5. Arizona is home to the Sonoran Desert

This is the only place on the planet where the giant Saguaro cactus lives. The Saguaro flower is the official flower of Arizona. It looms in summer between May and June.

Arizona has a National Park that is dedicated to the hearty cacti which is also the iconic symbol of the Southwest.

Out of all the four deserts in the United States, this is the most complex as well as subtropical.

The geological structures in this desert are so diverse and so are the flora and fauna. It rains twice a year here, a big reason why the plants and animals are thriving.  

6. It is illegal to cut a cactus in Arizona

Photo by Matthew T Rader – Wikimedia

One law in Arizona states that cutting down a cactus is a punishable offence. It comes with a maximum term in jail of 25 years.

The saguaro cactus is commonly found in Arizona and takes a long time to grow. Each of them has a lifespan of between 150 and 200 years.

They can grow up to 50 feet tall. Hence why the authorities are strict about protecting the habitat. The saguaro cactus is protected by the Native Plant Protection Act.

If the plant is on your property, you are required to notify the Department of Agriculture for a permit before cutting it down.

7. Arizona does not observe daylight saving

Navajo Nation is the only territory in Arizona that observes Daylight Savings. In the past, Arizona observed Daylight Savings Time (DST) beginning in 1918. However, it made the permanent change to Standard time in 1968.

A little history on Time zones in the United States; they were developed in the mid-19^th century to accommodate railroad schedules, which required regulating time across the nation.

Before the implementation of time zones, local communities observed their time schedules.

What made Arizona get an exception was the extreme heat experienced in the state. If DST were to be observed, it would mess up nighttime schedules like bedtime.

8. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is older than the dinosaurs

Photo by MathKnight – Wikimedia

There has not been one archaeological finding of dinosaurs in the Grand Canyon. The reason for this is that the rocks are so much older than the dinosaurs.

The only fossils found were of creatures like sponges, trilobites and corals.

If you would like to see some dinosaur fossils, head to the Triassic-aged Chinle Formation on the Navajo Reservation and at Petrified Forest National Park.

Although there are traces of dinosaurs bones and footprints found in Arizona. Proof of this is preserved three-toed dinosaur footprints dating back to 200 million years ago.

9. Arizona has some of the oldest farms in America

Some of the oldest vineyards in the United States can be traced to Arizona. For example, The Santa Cruz Valley is found at the border near Nogales up to Tucson.

The vineyard here has been farmed since at least 2000 BCE. Another old farm is near Phoenix.

There are modern canals that were used to supply water to the farms. Other than wine, there are vast farms that grow varieties of maize, squash, beans, and prickly pear fruit. The farm-to-table concept is very much alive in Arizona.

10. The world’s oldest rodeo is found in Arizona

Photo by C. G. P. Grey – Wikimedia

Arizona is home to the World’s Oldest Rodeo. It was established in 1888, an event that became the birthday of a professional rodeo.

The first rodeo was organized by a group of merchants and professional businessmen from Prescott. they formalized the cowboy tournament and offered cash prizes.

You will find the world’s oldest continuously operating rodeo in Payson. It has been in operation since the 1880s. A rodeo event attracts a minimum of 27,000 spectators.