Arizona – Arizona's Capital is Phoenix

(Pronounced ar-uh-zoh-nuh and fee-niks)

To remember the capital of the US state Arizona, use the following mnemonic:

A flaming arrow hit the centre zone (Arizona) and suddenly a blazing phoenix (Phoenix) flew out.

Arizona, in the southwestern region of the U.S., has a desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Features include pine forests in the north of the state, mountain ranges and the Colorado Plateau. Arizona's famous Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world's seven natural wonders. About a quarter of the state is made up of reservations that are home to 27 recognised Native American tribes. In its early history, Arizona relied on "the five C's" – copper, cotton, cattle, citrus and climate (tourism). Copper is still mined extensively, accounting for about two-thirds of America's total output of the metal.

Arizona's capital city, Phoenix, is in the northeastern reaches of the Sonoran Desert. It has a very hot climate but the city's canal system enabled the development of a thriving farming community in its earlier days. After World War II, high-tech companies moved into Phoenix as air conditioning made summers more bearable. On average, the city has 107 days each year when the temperature reaches 100F (38C) or higher. Phoenix is the only U.S. state capital with a population of more than a million people – the official figure stands at about 1.7 million. The city is divided into 15 "urban villages", each of which has a planning committee appointed by the City Council.