The State of Arizona is a statelocated in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed by the four Phoenix-area conurbation cities ofMesa, Glendale, Chandler and Scottsdale.

Arizona was the 48th and last of the continuguous admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912. Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters, but the high country in the north features pine forests and mountain ranges with cooler weather than the lower deserts. New population figures for the year ending July 1, 2006 indicate that Arizona was at that time the fastest growing state, exceeding the growth of the previous leader, Nevada.

Arizona is one of the Four Corners states. It borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, touches Colorado, and has a 389-mile (626 km )international borderwith the states of Sonora and Baja Californiain Mexico. In addition to the Grand Canyon, many other national forests, parks, monuments, and Indian reservations are located in the state.