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Phoenix, the seat of Maricopa County, is the largest city by area in Arizona, with an area of 517.9 square miles (1,341 km 2), and is also the 11th-largest city by area in the United States. Phoenix was settled in 1867 as an agricultural community near the confluence of the Salt and Gila Rivers and was
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Phoenix, city, seat (1871) of Maricopa county and capital of Arizona, U.S. It lies along the Salt River in the south-central part of the state, about 120 miles (190 km) north of the Mexico border and midway between El Paso, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The Salt River valley, popularly called the Valley of the Sun, includes not only Phoenix b...
With its broad, tree-lined avenues, Spanish-style architecture, and surrounding mountains, Phoenix bears much resemblance to Los Angeles. Like its California counterpart, Phoenix is a metropolis with not one but many centres, all at considerable distances from one another. From its historic heart to the west of Sky Harbor International Airport, the...
Phoenix lies near the confluence of the Gila and Salt rivers and is situated at the extreme northern part of the Sonoran Desert, an arid ecological zone whose characteristic plant is the nationally protected saguaro cactus. To the east of Phoenix are the rugged Superstition Mountains, a large complex of volcanic calderas that formed about 305 million years ago; the mountains reach to about 3,000 feet (900 metres) at their highest point. The Mazatzal Mountains rise to the northeast; the Verde River flows to the west of the mountains, entering the Salt River east of Phoenix.
The broad valley in which the city lies extends west to the Colorado River and south to the mountain chains north of Tucson, although the geographic borders of Phoenix end far short of those natural barriers. The Phoenix metropolitan area—the Valley of the Sun—stands at an elevation of 1,100 feet (335 metres) above sea level. The northern and eastern ends of this valley rise into the surrounding volcanic peaks; the remainder is level terrain, dotted with small volcanic mountains of granite and schist. Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and South Mountain are the most prominent of these urban peaks, reaching elevations of about 2,600 to 2,700 feet (790 to 820 metres).
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Phoenix has a dry, warm climate that in the winter months attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The average daily high temperature in the winter approaches 70 °F (21 °C), but summer highs typically rise to more than 100 °F (38 °C). It is almost always sunny throughout the year.
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Precipitation averages less than 8 inches (200 mm) annually, divided almost evenly between the winter and summer months. In summertime, the so-called monsoon season, much of this precipitation returns to the atmosphere almost immediately through evaporation or transpiration.
Until relatively recently, some three-fifths of the land within the Phoenix city limits was undeveloped. In the mid-1970s a plan was proposed to develop these vacant lands through a program of “infill” construction, taking advantage of the infrastructure that was already in place. Instead, however, the city pursued a policy of annexing surrounding communities, expanding outward to accommodate its growing population.
Phoenix has grown to absorb many satellite communities, and it is surrounded by other independent municipalities that have boomed on their own. These include Scottsdale, an affluent area known for its shopping and art districts, to the northeast; Fountain Hills, an exclusive community in the hills east of Scottsdale; Tempe, a middle-class suburb that is home to Arizona State University, to the east and Mesa, the “Mormon capital of Arizona,” farther east; Chandler, where a high-technology centre has emerged, to the southeast; the once-small agricultural communities of Gilbert and Queen Creek east of Chandler; Glendale, Goodyear, and Avondale to the west; and Sun City, one of the first retirement communities in the country, to the northwest.
- Phoenix Zoo. The Phoenix Zoo in Arizona’s Papago Park is a fantastic place to head to if you’re an animal lover, or if you’re coming with kids. The well-maintained grounds are home to many different animals, located across four trails on 125 acres.
- Arizona Science Center. The Arizona Science Center is a public science museum and is widely considered the greatest in the state, so the fact that it’s in Phoenix – and right close to Heritage Park – makes it a great source of excitement for tourists!
- Castles N’ Coasters. Phoenix may not be necessarily known for having the top theme parks in the country, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fun points of interest that match that description!
- Desert Botanical Garden. Few people take a trip to the desert with the goal of finding flowers, plants, and other flora. With just how hot Arizona and its deserts get, you might think the very idea is quite strange!
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Mar 28, 2024 · September 1, 2022. Phoenix, Arizona is one of the greatest cities in the Southwestern United States. You can find arts, culture, entertainment, and world-class dining in every neighborhood. The city encompasses a fusion of cultures with plenty of American Indian and Latinx touches.
Discover fun facts about Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the United States, including community details, historical facts and travel information.
Jan 4, 2023 · January 4, 2023. Courtesy Desert Botanical Garden. The list of best things to do in Phoenix is an expansive one. There’s no place quite like this city—a rapidly growing, 517-square-mile sprawl in...
Phoenix Travel Guide. Phoenix has transformed from a cattle town of 65,000 people in 1950 to a desert metropolis of 1.6 million. Explosive growth is a dominant feature of the city. People are...
