Arizona

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COPPER AND MESAS

Desert animals come to mind—lizards, eleven species of rattlesnakes and the venomous, but non-threatening, gila monster (pronounced “hee-la”).

These animals live in the arid landscape of Arizona among the giant saguaro cactus, Joshua trees, fossilized trees of the Petrified Forest and majestic canyons. The cactus wren nests for protection within the thorns of a saguaro cactus; tiny tree frogs live in its mountains; turquoise and copper are abundant in its rock.

Grand Canyon west

Native Holy Land

Along the northwest corner of the state, the Colorado River slices through the land for over 275 miles, exposing a billion years in layers of jagged, copper-colored rock cliffs in the Grand Canyon.

Along with protecting its natural wonders, Arizona has designated the most land of any US state to several native tribes—among them are Navajo, Apache, and Hopi people. For thousands of years, Pueblo peoples honored the canyon as holy ground for pilgrimage. Today this National Park is tended by indigenous Hualapai Tribe, Havasupai Tribe, and Navajo Nation.

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