Arizona: 18 Wheels of Steel

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 Note: This page contains only information about Arizona in 18 Wheels of Steel!

Arizona is a state of the United States, which is featured in the 18 Wheels of Steel series.

Summary

The state is bordered by California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest, and touches Colorado to the northeast at the Four Corners. Just as its real-life world counterpart, the in-game Arizona features mainly desert terrain, continuing the theme from Nevada and Southern California.

Geography

Arizona is a landlocked state situated in the Southwestern region of the United States. It has a vast and diverse geography famous for its deep canyons, high- and low-elevation deserts, numerous natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. It is bordered by California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest, and touches Colorado to the northeast at the Four Corners. With an area of 113,998 square miles (295,253 km2), making it the sixth largest U.S. state. Of this area, just 0.3% consists of water, which makes Arizona the state with the second lowest percentage of water area (New Mexico is the lowest at 0.2%). Arizona spans about 335 miles (539 km) at its widest and 390 miles (628 km) at its longest, and has an average elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,200 m).

Geographically, the state can be divided into three regions: the Colorado Plateau, the Transition Zone, and the Basin and Range Province.

The Colorado Plateau is a semi-arid, mostly flat-lying region ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet (1,524 m to 2,438 m) in elevation, centered on the Four Corners region. The Colorado Plateau encompasses an area of approximately 140,000 square miles (360,000 km2). It consists of northern Arizona, except for a small portion of northwestern Arizona. The Plateau ends with the steep rock wall of the Mogollon Rim, which defines the southern edge of the plateau. The Colorado Plateau has the nickname "Red Rock Country" because of its brightly colored sedimentary rock left visible by dryness and erosion, and protected from deformation. The geology of the Colorado Plateau is exhibited by the canyons of the Colorado River, and the Grand Canyon exposes one of the most unusual rock sequences in the world. The area hosts many distinctive natural features unique to Arizona, including the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Meteor Crater, Painted Desert, and the Petrified Forest.

The Transition Zone is a northwest-trending escarpment of mountainous terrain in central Arizona shaped by the intersection of the higher-level Colorado Plateau with the lower-level Basin and Range Province. The area is termed the Transition Zone because it is transitional between the two regions, with characteristics from both. The area consists of a series of rugged mountain ranges and valleys. Many of the mountains of the Transition Zone are part of the Mogollon Rim, a cliff, or a dramatic escarpment in places, which extends 115 miles (190 km) from northern Yavapai County eastward to near the border with New Mexico. The mountain ranges of the Transition Zone include the Mazatzal, Santa Maria, Sierra Ancha, and White mountain ranges. Because of the range of elevation within the Transition Zone, climatic conditions can vary widely over small areas. The Transition Zone tends to be one of the areas of Arizona to receive heavier rainfall due to its mountainous terrain, and experiences a variation in temperature by altitude.

The Basin and Range Province is a region occupying the southern part of Arizona, along with a strip of land consisting of the western part of the state. It is also part of a much larger region encompassing southwestern New Mexico, western Utah, and virtually all of Nevada, and extending into northwestern Mexico. The Basin and Range is characterized by steep, linear mountain ranges alternating with lengthy deserts. The mountain ranges, which poke through the lengthy desert plains surrounding them, can rise above 9,000 feet (2,700 m), and create biological islands inhabited by cool-climate plants and animals. The geology of the Basin and Range is the result of crustal extension of the North American plate. Due to the crustal extension, the area of the crust underneath the region is some of the thinnest in the world. The Basin and Range supplies nearly all of the copper mined in Arizona, and contains other minerals such as gold, silver, and barite.

Climate

Due to the state's large area and range of elevation, there is a variety of localized climate conditions. Overall, most of Arizona receives little precipitation, and is classified as having either an arid or semi-arid climate. The northern parts of the state and the mountainous areas tend to have cooler climates, while the southwestern parts of the state tend to be warm year round.

Cities

There is 1 city in Arizona, represented in the 18 Wheels of Steel series.

City Name Image First Game Remarks
Phoenix Phoenix ALH view 3.png Hard Truck: 18 WoS Capital

See also