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On the state flag,
adopted in 1917, red and yellow rays represent the setting sun.
These are the colors of Spain, carried by Spanish explorer
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition into the region in
1540. A copper-colored star represents the state's chief mineral
product. The state seal, adopted in 1911, has symbols relating to
important economic activities, including mining, cattle-raising,
and farming. A dam and reservoir in the background show the
importance of water resources.
Arizona, once thought to be an almost worthless desert, has become
a prosperous state of the United States. It is rich in farm and
mineral products, and it is growing rapidly in manufacturing and
population. Vast irrigation systems transform the desert soil into
rich farmland. Dams built by the government or with federal funds
provide water to irrigate large areas of land. These dams also
generate electric power for the state's cities and industries. |
