Arizona is an amazing and diverse state. Arizona is best known for the Grand Canyon, the mile-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River. But here are a few facts that you may not know about this beautiful state some of us call home:

1. The city of Phoenix is the most populous state capital in the United States and the 5th largest in the entire country. To put things into perspective, Phoenix has more people than Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Dallas.
2. Yuma, Arizona, gets more hours of sunshine per year than any other city in the world, with over 4,000 hours. For reference, Miami receives about 3,100 hours.
3. While you might think of Arizona as a desert state, Flagstaff, Arizona, is the 7th snowiest city in the entire US. In fact, the 2022-23 season was the second-snowiest on record.
4. Arizona is home to what is by far the largest remaining tract of sovereign Native American land in the country. Navajo land extends into Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, covering 27,000 square miles. The history of this area dates back to prehistoric times & the subsequent arrival of Spanish and European settlers. More than a dozen national monuments, tribal parks & historical sites in this region, along with a dozen lakes and ponds. Lake Powell alone has 186 miles of Navajo shoreline.
5. Arizona is home to the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in Coconino National Forest. The forest covers 1.8 million acres of varied terrain and elevation and is one of six in Arizona. The elevation ranges from 2,600 feet up to 12,633 feet at the top of the San Francisco Peaks.
6. Arizona is home to the country’s most productive powerplant. Palo Verde Generating Station produces over a 3rd of the electricity for the entire state of Arizona. If Palo Verde were to cease operations, the replacement cost for natural gas generation (the least expensive alternative) would total $36 billion.
7. At the bottom of the Grand Canyon is Supai village, the most remote town in the continental US. This village is so remote that mule must deliver their mail. Goods and people are helicoptered in and out, and in order to visit, tourists must obtain a permit which can be tricky to get. For more information on visiting Supai village and Havasupai Falls, check out this article. Or if you want to read about a beginner’s first trip to Havasupai Falls, check out this article!

Something people forget about Arizona is how huge and diverse it is! It’s a beautiful state with so much to offer and we’re so proud to call it home.

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