Arizona : Geographical Features

Arizona is a state of extraordinary topographic diversity and beauty. It contains a variety of landscapes including the desert, plateau and even mountains. Its desert landscape with xerophytes such as cactus is noteworthy. The Colorado Plateau, which covers two-fifths of the state in the north, is characterized by deep canyons, notably the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is present in the Grand Canyon National Park. It is a vast gorge more than 200 miles (320 km) long, 18 miles (29 km) wide, and more than 1 mile (1.6 km) deep. The Colorado is the major river flowing in Arizona along with its important tributaries Little Colorado and Gila rivers. Along with a few natural lakes, Arizona has a number of artificial lakes as well like Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu all formed by dams of flood control. More than half of Arizona has mountains and plateaus. The Mogollon Rim separates the northern plateau from a central region of the state. Some of the important ranges in the Mexican island include the Chiricahua, Dos Cabezas, and Pinaleno mountains. Humphreys Peak is the highest point in the state at a height of 12,633 ft (3,853 m).