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The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of the flag represent both the 13 original colonies of the Union, and the rays of the Western setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors carried by Coronado's Spanish expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed in the flag's center. On February 27, 1917, the Arizona legislature adopted the flag for the five- year-old state, despite dissenting votes and Governor Campbell's refusal to affix his signature to the bill.

Statehood February 14, 1912 - 48th state

Arizona is located in the Southwestern US between 37 and 31 degrees north latitude. At 118,417 square miles, it is the sixth-largest state in the nation. Bordered on the north by Utah, on the west by Nevada and California, and on the east by New Mexico. It also shares a border with the Republic of Mexico on the south.

The state is divided into three distinct regions - the northern plateaus, the central mountains, and the southern deserts. Associated with each region is a unique variety of flora and fauna, and wide ranges of climatic conditions.

The northern plateau is notable for its remarkable canyons. In addition to extremes in erosion, there are outstanding examples of volcanic activity in the vicinity of the city of Flagstaff. Within the San Francisco Mountains is Humphrey's Peak, an extinct volcano, which is the state's highest point at 12,633 feet.

The plateau region comes to an abrupt end at the Mogollon Rim- a distinct geologic feature, with its upper reaches covered by a vast pine forest. From here the central mountains run diagonally across the state in a northwest-southeast direction and cover all or parts of ten of Arizona's 15 counties. The mountains average 6,000 feet in altitude; however, some of the peaks rise above 10,000 feet. The region is rich in minerals, and its mountains provide recreational opportunities for the state's urban dwellers in forests, lakes and ski resorts.

Within the lower third of the state lies the Sonoran Desert, containing some of the most unique plants and animals of any of the world's deserts. Here the legendary saguaro cacti grow to heights of 40 to 50 feet when they reach maturity at 100 years of age. Partially watered by three rivers - the Colorado, the Gila and the Salt - areas of the southern desert are intensely cultivated year round and provide vegetables for the nation. The state's two largest population centers - Phoenix and Tucson - are found in the desert regions.

More About Arizona and The Four Corners Area

Native Americans On the high northern plateau is the Navajo Reservation, the largest in the nation, extends into New Mexico and Utah. The Navajos are a proud tribe, with many still living the nomadic life of their ancestors, driving bands of sheep across their breathtakingly beautiful land. They are world-famous for weaving blankets and rugs from their wool, and equally famous for their lovely silver and turquoise jewelry. Within the Navajo Reservation are the high mesas, where the Hopi Indians live. Unlike their neighbors, the Hopi are a stationary people, many of them living in homes built centuries ago. Their village of Oraibi is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the United States. The mesas are sharp cliffs rising steeply from the valley floor, and the Hopi built here as a protection from enemies. They raise corn and other food on terraced fields below and are famous for the baskets they weave from reeds and willows.

The Hopi Prophecies Thomas Banacyca Talks About the Hopi Prophecy

The Apache tribes - whose rolls once included Geronimo and Cochise - now live mostly in the forests rolling hills of the east central portion of the state, where many of them raise cattle. The Akimel O'odham (formerly known as Pima Indians) govern the reservation between Phoenix and Casa Grande, and the Tohono O'odham (formerly known as Papago Indians) govern one near Tucson in an area along the Mexican border as large as the state of Massachusetts. In the bottom of the Grand Canyon live the Havasupai, who till the soil and live almost completely isolated from the rest of the world. And there are the Hualapai, the Mohaves, the Maricopas, the Chemehuevis, the Cocopahs, the Yaquis, and others - numbering about 160,000 individuals. Today, ancient Native American dwellings still stand. Eight of these remnants of prehistoric times are set aside as National Monuments - Canyon de Chelly and Navajo document, which includes Betatakin, Keet Seel, and inscription House, on the Navajo Reservation; Casa Grande Ruins, just outside Coolidge; Montezuma Castle, an hour's drive from both Prescott and Flagstaff; Tonto Ruins, on the Apache Trail just east of Roosevelt Dam; Tuzigoot, on the Verde River in the Verde Valley; and Walnut Canyon and Wupatki, both in Arizona's northland.

State Animals and Flowers The plant and animal life of Arizona is as varied as its scenery and climate. Many unique and beautiful desert plants live here with very little water. Desert animals include the rattlesnake, Gila Monster, prairie dog, coyote, Catalina, horned toad, jaguar, bighorn sheep, jackrabbit and the desert roadrunner. Most of these are cactus (many of them protected under state law) -- including the tall fluted saguaro and the organ pipe, the "teddy bear" cholla, the prickly pear, and the yucca. There are also creosote bushes, mesquite trees, and palo verde trees. Palm trees are not native but are a common sight in Arizona.

In the spring, the desert is beautiful with cactus plants and desert trees in bloom, and if there has been more rain than usual, the desert floor is covered with native grasses as well as colorful desert wildflowers. Desert animals and reptiles include the rattlesnake, Gila monster, prairie dog, coyote, javelina, horned toad, jaguar, bighorn sheep, jackrabbit, and the unusual desert roadrunner. In the mountain northlands are the largest stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world, as well as aspen, walnut, maple, juniper, oak, and pinyon pine. Wild turkey, mountain lion, deer, elk, and bear roam the vast national forests of the state. Arizona is a paradise for the hunter, the explorer, and the nature lover. The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of the flag represent both the 13 original colonies of the Union, and the rays of the Western setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors carried by Coronado's Spanish expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed in the flag's center. On February 27, 1917, the Arizona legislature adopted the flag for the five-year-old state, despite dissenting votes and Governor Campbell's refusal to affix his signature to the bill.

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