Arizona is a land of contradictions. For many people, the state is synonymous with hot, low-elevation deserts, covered with cacti and creosote bushes. In point of fact, more than half of the state lies at an elevation of at least 4,000 feet above sea level, and it possesses the largest stand of evergreen Ponderosa Pine trees in the world. Here are some additional fun facts about Arizona that should intrigue you:
- Arizona is the number one copper producing state in the nation.
- Not surprising then is that the Capitol building of Arizona has a copper roof — the amount of copper used is equivalent to that used in 4,800,000 pennies.
- Arizona has the largest percentage of land of any state set aside for Native American use.
- There are 11.2 million acres of National Forest and 1/4 of the state is forested.
- Despite its reputation as a desert state, parts of the state get plenty of snow. The maximum winter snowfall was 400.9 inches on Sunrise Mountain set in 1972-73.
- One law of the state of Arizona states that it is illegal to keep a donkey in your bathtub.
- It is illegal to refuse a person a glass of water in the state of Arizona.
- If you cut down a Saguaro Cactus, you may face 25 years of imprisonment.
- Highest point from the sea level in the state of Arizona is the Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff, elevation 12,637 feet.
- The lowest elevation in the state is a point on the Colorado River which is 70 feet above sea level.
- Arizona is the sixth largest state in the country in terms of square miles.
- Some scholars believe that the state’s name comes from a Basque phrase meaning “place of oaks,” while others attribute it to a Tohono O’odham Indian phrase meaning “place of the young (or little) spring.”
- Arizona has 60% of all types of wildlife species found in North America.
- Arizona also has more parks and national monuments than any other state, more mountains than Switzerland, and more golf courses than Scotland.
- The best-preserved meteor crater in America is located near Winslow, Arizona.
