Arizona is a state of extremes in both its climate and geography. The southwestern state is home to some of the hottest temperatures in the world, but also has areas that see significant snowfall. Deserts, mountains and forests are all contained within the state's borders.
A large portion of Arizona's geography is mountainous. Mountain ranges stretch across the state from the northwest corner diagonally to the southeast. Humphreys Peak, near Flagstaff in the north-central part of the state, is the highest at 12,611 feet and Baldy Peak, in the eastern part of the state, is the second highest at 11,490 feet.
The southwestern section of the state is geographically made up of small valleys and deserts. The desert is part of the Sonora Desert that extends into Mexico.
The northeastern part of Arizona is a large plateau that is between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. Part of the plateau, the Kaibib Plateau, is home to a large pine forest that extends into Utah.
As in most desert areas, the temperatures in Arizona can vary greatly from day to night. In some areas, particularly the southwest, there can be 50 degree variations between day and night.
In Phoenix, the state's largest city, the average temperature in the winter is in the high 60s during the day and the low 40s at night. During the summer the temperature goes from the 100s to the low 80s.
Most of Arizona is arid or semiarid and does not get that much precipitation. In the winter, storms coming in from the west can dump lots of precipitation on Arizona, but usually only in the higher elevations where it often comes down as snow. These mountainous areas can get up to 100 inches of snow over the course of the winter. That is the exception as Arizona's reputation as a dry, hot place holds true for most of the state. There's typically little humidity and few clouds.
The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona. One of the most famous natural wonders in the world, the Grand Canyon was carved out of the ground over many, many years by the Colorado River. At some points the canyon is 18 miles wide and almost 6,000 feet deep.
