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Best known for eerie cactus-strewn deserts and the majestic immensity of the Grand Canyon, Arizona is a state of stark natural beauty and startling extremes. Ranging from high plateaus in the northeast to arid desert expanses in the south, Arizona is a study in contrasts – between summer and winter, high and low elevations, even night and day.

First inhabited by ancestral Pueblo peoples like the Anasazi, Arizona still has a strong Native American presence today, with reservations occupying over ¼ of the state and many Navajo, Hopi and Zuni (among others) calling the Grand Canyon State home. A Spanish, then Mexican province, Arizona was acquired by the U.S in 1848 and became the last of the 48 contiguous states in 1912.

Arizona’s population grew modestly after statehood with cotton farming, copper mining and cattle raising as its primary industries. The establishment of Grand Canyon National Park and rise of dude ranches and resort hotels such as the Arizona Biltmore helped launched the tourism sector in the 20s and 30s, but it wasn’t until the advent of air-conditioning that Arizona became an attractive year-round destination. The state’s population has increased rapidly ever since, growing nearly five-fold since 1960.

While the mild winters in its southern regions attract hordes of snowbirds every year, the Grand Canyon State’s diverse geography and climate offers much more than just an escape from the cold. The northeastern plateaus and the higher mountainous region cutting from northwest to southeast across the state experience significantly lower temperatures than the southern deserts. Winter sports, fishing and hunting are all popular at higher elevations, characterized by ponderosa forests, snowy winters and milder summers than the scorching South.

Arizona houses both the metropolitan area with the most days over 100 °F (Phoenix), and the city with the most days with a low temperature below freezing (Flagstaff), indicating the variation in its climate. The contrast between night and day in any given region can be just as stark: temperatures can range from below freezing to the mid 70s in a single day.

The epic grandeur of the Grand Canyon, the lonely beauty of a single cactus in the red desert: the word “Arizona” instantly conjures these images, and the state is a delight for those who love the outdoors. More than just a land of arroyos and mesas, however, Arizona continues its rapid growth, offering enchantments for every taste and every season.