Let's look at the geographical characteristics of the "Grand Canyon" state: Arizona.
Population (2006): 6,166,318 (Belgium 10,430,000)
State size: 114,000 square miles (Belgium 11,787 sq miles)
People / sq mile: 54 (Belgium 885)
State Capital: Phoenix (named after the mythical bird the "Phoenix")
Major cities: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale.
Admission to union: The 48th State, 1912
Origin of state name: Named from the Indian word "arizonac" meaning "small spring".
Nicknames: Grand Canyon State, Rattlesnake Heaven
Bordering states: California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico with Mexico on the south.
Highest point: Humphreys Peak, at 12,633 feet(= 3850 meter )above sea level. (Belgium: Signal of Botrange 2276 feet/694 meter)
Lowest point: Colorado River, only 70 feet (=21 meter) above sea level.(Belgium: 72.3 km coast hence 0 feet/meter)
State bird: Cactus Wren
State flower: Saguara Cactus Blossom
State tree: Paloverde
Arizona flag: The official state flag of Arizona was officially adopted on February 17, 1917. It was designed by Colonel Charles W. Harris, the 13 yellow and red rays represent both the Sun's rays and the original 13 colonies of the United States of America. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who entered Arizona in 1540 (looking for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola). The copper-colored star in the middle represents copper mining, since Arizona produces more copper than any other state in the USA.
TOP tourist attraction: Grand Canyon: The Colorado River runs through the Colorado Plateau carving a deep canyon. (new: Grand Canyon Skywalk, comparison)
Motto: God Enriches
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Arizona Geography
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From Wiki-
There is some disagreement over the proper etymology of the name "Arizona". The two most likely explanations are that it derives from a Basque phrase aritz onak, "good oaks",[5][6] or that it comes from an O'odham phrase alĭ ṣonak, "small spring"[7], as well as a Spanish origin in the sentence zona árida or árida zona ("barren zone"). The former etymology is the one preferred by Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble, among other specialists. The name Arizonac was initially applied to the silver mining camp, and later (shortened to Arizona) to the entire territory.
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