According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 7,278,717, Arizona is the 14th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and AZ is the two letter abbreviation for Arizona. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Arizona.
Rivers in Arizona
Gila River
The Gila River is an approximately 1,004 km long river in the southern United States. It rises in the state of New Mexico in the Devil’s Mountains and flows westward through Arizona before it flows into the Colorado River near the city of Yuma. From 1848 to 1853, the river was the border between the United States and Mexico.
Little Colorado River
The Little Colorado River is a tributary of the Colorado River and has a length of approx. 507 km. The Little Colorado River rises in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona on the western side of the North American continental divide. From there, the river flows northwest through numerous canyons in Arizona. The Little Colorado River flows into the Colorado River approximately 110 km north of the city of Flagstaff. The confluence of the two rivers takes place in the Grand Canyon.
Salt River
The Salt River is a tributary of the Gila River with a length of approx. 322 km. The Salt River is created by the confluence of the White River and Black River in eastern Arizona. The Salt River is used intensively along its course, so it flows through a total of 4 reservoirs and is heavily used for irrigation at Mesa. This use can already be demonstrated for the prehistoric Hohokam culture, which also created many channels to use the water of the river.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Arizona, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Arizona.
Mountains in Arizona
Humphreys Peak
The Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in the state of Arizona with a height of approx. 3,851 m and is located approx. 20 km north of the city of Flagstaff. Humphreys Peak can be assigned to the mountain group of the San Francisco Peaks, which form a group of no longer active volcanoes. The mountain is located in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness, a nature reserve. The mountain can be hiked on an approx. 8 km long route, but you have to stay on the hiking trail due to the nature conservation of the region. Furthermore, hiking groups may not be larger than 12 people. Special care should be taken in winter as avalanches may occur.
Agassiz Peak
The mountain Agassiz Peak has a height of approx. 3,766 m and is the second highest mountain in Arizona. The mountain Humphreys Peak is only 2 km away and therefore Agassiz Peak is also in the San Francisco Peaks. Humphreys Peak and Agassiz Peak are often confused because Flagstaff from Agassiz Peak obscures the view of the actually higher Humphreys Peak. Walking above the tree line is strictly prohibited to protect the animals’ habitats.
Black Mesa
The Black Mesa is an elevation in northeastern Arizona and is often referred to as the Big Mountain. The maximum height is approx. 2490 m. Coal mining has been going on in this mountain region since the 1960s, which has recently led to criticism, however, because a lot of groundwater is required to remove the coal and the groundwater level sinks by approx. 30 m annually.
Chiricahua Peak
The Chiricahua Peak with a height of approx. 2,975 m is the highest mountain in the Chiricahua Mountains. The mountain is located just north of the Mexico-United States border. The mountain is mainly forested with a thick vegetation of pine trees. The mountain was probably created 27 million years ago by a volcanic eruption.
Mount Baldy
With an altitude of approx. 3,481 m, Mount Baldy is the second highest peak in Arizona, ignoring the six peaks in the San Francisco Mountains. Mount Baldy is the highest mountain in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. The mountain got the name baldy (dt. Bald head) due to the fact that it rises above the tree line and only sparsely overgrown. Since the mountain is in the Apache Reserve and is one of the most sacred Apache mountains, it can only be hiked with a permit. The wildlife around Mount Baldy is also worth mentioning. Large stocks and trout as well as the Mexican wolf are found here.
Mount Graham
Mount Graham rises to an altitude of approximately 3,267 m in southeastern Arizona. The mountain is one of the sacred Apache mountains. An important observatory, the Large Binocular Telescope, has been located on this mountain near the border with the state of New Mexico since 2004.
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon in southeast Arizona has a height of approx. 2,791 m. The mountain is named after the botanist Sarah Lemmon who climbed the mountain in 1881 with guides from the locals. Mount Lemmon is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains, the highest mountain of which it is. At the foot of the mountain is the very popular resort of Summer haven, which despite its name also attracts guests in winter. On the mountain is the Mount Lemmon Station Observatory, which used to be a radar station for landing the space shuttle.
Mount Wrightson
With a height of approx. 2,881 m, Mount Wrightson is the highest mountain in the Santa Rita Mountains near the city of Tucson. Due to the characteristic pyramid shape of its summit, the mountain can be seen very well in all of southeastern Arizona. The mountain can be climbed on an approximately 10 km long hiking trail. However, hikers should be careful as the area around Mount Wrightson is also home to black bears and cougars. On clear days you can see from the top of the mountain to the Gulf of California.
Lakes and Reservoirs in Arizona
Lake Mead
With an area of 640 km², Lake Mead in northwest Arizona and southeastern Nevada is the largest reservoir in the USA. Behind the Hoover Dam, the lake is 180 km long and 180 m deep. Around the lake is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This nature reserve is one of the most popular in the United States. Visitors can enjoy boat trips, indulge in fishing or start hiking in the neighboring desert areas. A special feature of Lake Mead is the fact that several communities had to be abandoned in order to be able to build up the lake. At low tide, the ruins of St. Thomas can still be seen.
Lyman Lake
Lyman Lake is located in eastern Arizona and was created in 1915 by the Little Colorado River. Today the lake has an area of approximately 6 km². There are numerous hiking trails around the lake in Lyman Lake State Park. The lake itself is ideal for boating, fishing and other sports such as water skiing.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell in the north of the state of Arizona is a reservoir with an area of approximately 658 km². After Lake Mead, Lake Powell, which also extends to the state of Utah, is the second largest reservoir in the entire United States. The lake was created in 1963 with the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam and was dammed by the Colorado River until 1980, but the lake’s water level has been falling for several years. Nowadays the lake is a popular recreation area. The best starting point to enjoy the lake is the town of Page at the southern end of the lake. The area around the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is around the lake.This protected area is visited by approximately 2 million guests annually. These are spread over 4 campsites and many other accommodation options.
Lake Mohave
Lake Mohave in northwest Arizona is a reservoir with an area of approximately 107 km² and represents the border between the states of Nevada and Arizona. Since 1951 the Davis Dam has been damming the Colorado River. The lake is located 110 km downstream of the Hoover Dam. Lake Mohave is located in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and is very popular with anglers due to the trout population.
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu in western Arizona is an approximately 67 km² reservoir that also forms part of the border of the states of California and Arizona. The Parker Dam has been damming the Colorado River here since 1938. In addition to generating energy, Lake Havasu also serves as a drinking water reservoir for southern and central Arizona. The lake is also a popular local recreation area, which is why its water level must not drop too much. The lake is particularly popular with sailors and anglers, who flock to Lake Havasu mainly because of the fishing tournaments and the large numbers of perch.
Theodore Roosevelt Lake
Theodore Roosevelt Lake is a reservoir near the city of Phoenix. The lake covers an area of approximately 87 km². Since the Theodor Roosevelt dam was completed in 1911, it has been damaging the Salt River. When it was completed in 1911, the dam was the tallest masonry in the world and Theodore Roosevelt Lake was the largest reservoir in the world at the time. The dam was increased from 1989 to 1996. Today the lake is also a popular local recreation area and invites visitors to fish. However, there is a limit and only one per day per person is permitted.
