Arizona

Footsteps Journal
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The Grand Canyon
The Hopi
Origins
Symbols
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Check out the Route Maps

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Click on either map to see it in detail

 

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is Arizona’s most famous sight. It is also a UN World Heritage Site protected for all the people of the world. The park was established in 1919 and contains 1892 square miles of land.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, roughly 10 miles wide and a mile deep. Although the rims are only 10 miles apart, it is a 215-mile drive from the South Rim to the North Rim. The most amazing feature of the Grand Canyon is its geology. From the Rim to the River, a person can literally walk through time. Nearly 2 billion years of geology history are exposed in its eroded cliffs. Even more amazing when you consider that the earth is considered to be 4.6 billion years old!

The first major explorations of the Colorado River canyons was conducted by John Wesley Powell in 1869, followed by a second expedition in 1871-71. Powell was a one armed Civil War veteran, who using simple wooden boats, ran the entire length of the Grand Canyon.

Origin of the name, Arizona

Named from the Indian word Arizonac, meaning "little spring" or "young spring"

State Symbols 

Click here to learn what the State's symbols are and how they came to be.
  • State Nickname - Grand Canyon State
  • The Arizona State Seal 
  • State Flag
  • State Flower - White blossom of the saguaro
  • State Tree - Palo verde
  • State Bird - Cactus wren
  • State Gem - Turquoise
  • Official Neckware - Bola tie
  • State Fish - Apache Trout
  • State Fossil - Petrified wood
  • State Amphibian - Arizona Treefrog
  • State Mammal - Ringtail
  • State Reptile - Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake
  • State Song - "Arizona March Song"

    State Symbols-Coloring Book - Click here for a free downloadable coloring book
  • Arizona BLM Coloring Book

 

Arizona Links

Arizona' National Forests
Ghost Towns
Arizona's National Parks
Grand Canyon
Slot Canyons
California Condor Recovery Project

 

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Kim and Don Greene, Authors; publication date October 1, 2001