Arizona is located in the southwestern quadrant of the conterminous states, bordered by to the west, to the northwest, to the north, to the east, and the Mexican state of to the south. The forms the boundary with California and Nevada. , situated in the south-central part of the state, is the capital and largest city. Area 113,990 square miles (295,233 square km). Population (2020) 7,151,502; (2024 est.) 7,582,384. Land Arizona(more)United States: Southwest(more)3 of 3Tour the butte escarpments and vegetative landscape of Arizona desert terrainArizona desert landscapes.(more)See all videos for this article—the shifting of large, relatively thin segments of crust—and stream erosion have done the most to create Arizona’s spectacular topography. Specifically, the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate came into contact and created the major tectonic forces that uplifted, wrinkled, and stretched Arizona’s geologic crust, forming its mountain ranges, basins, and high plateaus. Over the course of millennia, rivers and their tributaries have carved distinctive landforms on these surfaces. Relief Physiographic regions of Arizona(more)2 of 3Travel down the Colorado River, through the Colorado Plateau, to behold Arizona's Grand CanyonColorado Plateau and Grand Canyon, northern Arizona.(more)See all videos for this articleVermilion Cliffs National MonumentVermilion Cliffs National Monument, northern Arizona.(more)To Arizona’s two major physiographic divisions, the and the , geologists add the Transition Zone (or Central Highlands). The northeastern two-fifths of Arizona is part of the scenic Colorado Plateau. Far less rugged than adjacent portions of the in Utah, these tablelands in Arizona consist mainly of plains interrupted by steplike escarpments. Although they are labeled mesas and plateaus, their ruggedness and inaccessibility have been exaggerated. The incomparable Grand Canyon of the Colorado River provides the major exception to what has proved to be an area easily traversed. Forest-clad volcanic mountains atop the plateaus provide the state’s highest points: , 12,633 feet (3,851 metres), in the San Francisco Mountains, and , 11,403 feet (3,476 metres), in the ., Arizona is the 6th-largest state by area and the 14th-most-populous of the 50 states. It is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912., From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint. Plan the perfect vacation with Arizona's official travel guide..