Northern Arizona
Encyclopedia
Northern Arizona is an unofficial, colloquially-defined region of the U.S. state of Arizona
. It is dominated by the Colorado Plateau
, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim
. In the West lies the Grand Canyon
, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the land slowly rose around it. In the central portion lies the Painted Desert
, consisting of sedimentary rock
s eroded by water and wind, exposing thick, brightly colored layers. In the East are the very large Hopi
and Navajo
reservations, parts of which overlap, leading to occasional territorial disputes. In this area travelers may tune their radios to hear native-language broadcasts. Flagstaff
is the largest and main city of the Northern Arizona region. Kingman
, located in the northwest of the state, in Mohave County
, may or may not be considered part of Northern Arizona, depending on local opinions. Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University
and the Lowell Observatory
. Much of the territory is parkland
, reservations
, or other BLM-administered lands. Major attractions in addition to the Grand Canyon include the cliff dwellings of Canyon de Chelly
, and Meteor Crater. Northern Arizona also goes by the name Alta Arizona, which means "Upper Arizona" in Spanish.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It is dominated by the Colorado Plateau
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico,...
, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature running across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately from northern Yavapai County eastward to near the border with New Mexico.-Description:...
. In the West lies the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the land slowly rose around it. In the central portion lies the Painted Desert
Painted Desert, Arizona
The Painted Desert is a area of badlands located in Northern Arizona in the United States. The Arizona desert stretches from the Grand Canyon National Park into the Petrified Forest National Park and runs roughly astride and just north of the Little Colorado and the Puerco Rivers...
, consisting of sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s eroded by water and wind, exposing thick, brightly colored layers. In the East are the very large Hopi
Hopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
and Navajo
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
reservations, parts of which overlap, leading to occasional territorial disputes. In this area travelers may tune their radios to hear native-language broadcasts. Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
is the largest and main city of the Northern Arizona region. Kingman
Kingman, Arizona
Kingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...
, located in the northwest of the state, in Mohave County
Mohave County, Arizona
Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 200,186, an increase of 45,154 people since the 2000 census count of 155,032. The county seat is Kingman...
, may or may not be considered part of Northern Arizona, depending on local opinions. Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
and the Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
. Much of the territory is parkland
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, reservations
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
, or other BLM-administered lands. Major attractions in addition to the Grand Canyon include the cliff dwellings of Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established on April 1, 1931 as a unit of the National Park Service. It is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation...
, and Meteor Crater. Northern Arizona also goes by the name Alta Arizona, which means "Upper Arizona" in Spanish.
National Monuments
The following National Monuments are located in Northern Arizona:- Canyon de Chelly National MonumentCanyon de Chelly National MonumentCanyon de Chelly National Monument was established on April 1, 1931 as a unit of the National Park Service. It is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation...
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National MonumentGrand Canyon-Parashant National MonumentGrand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is located on the northern edge of the Grand Canyon in northwest Arizona. It was established by Presidential Proclamation 7265 on January 11, 2000...
- Navajo National MonumentNavajo National MonumentNavajo National Monument is located within the northwest portion of the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona.Navajo National Monument preserves three of the most intact cliff dwellings of the ancestral puebloan people . The Navajo people who live here today call these ancient ones Anasazi...
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National MonumentWalnut Canyon National MonumentWalnut Canyon National Monument is a United States National Monument located about southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, just off Interstate 40. The canyon rim lies at ; the canyon's floor is 350 ft lower...
- Wupatki National MonumentWupatki National MonumentThe Wupatki National Monument is a National Monument located in north-central Arizona, near Flagstaff. Rich in Native American ruins, the monument is administered by the National Park Service in close conjunction with the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.Wupatki was listed on the...
See also
- Arizona TrailArizona TrailThe Arizona National Scenic Trail is a National Scenic Trail from Mexico to Utah that traverses the whole north-south length of Arizona. The trail begins at the Coronado National Memorial near the US-Mexico border and moves north through parts of the Huachuca, Santa Rita, and Rincon Mountains; it...