Arizona: A Land of Contrasts, From Desert to Mountain Arizona, located in the southwestern United States, is a land of striking contrasts. From the saguaro cactus-studded deserts to the snow-capped peaks of the San Francisco Mountains, Arizona's landscape is as diverse as it is beautiful. Spanning over 113,990 square miles, it's the 6th largest state in the U.S. Geography and Borders Arizona, also known as the Grand Canyon State, is a landlocked state situated in the southwestern United States....