It’s your first trip to the Grand Canyon, and you are totally amazed. Your teacher taught you about this giant gorge in northern Arizona, but seeing it in person really makes you think.
You look down toward the river on the canyon floor, more than a mile away. You remember learning about John Wesley Powell, who first explored the canyon in 1869. That was a long time ago, and Arizona has changed. But the Grand Canyon is as incredible as it was when Powell first paddled through in a wooden boat.
Arizona and New Mexico have grown a lot since Powell’s time. Air-conditioning made living in the desert more comfortable. As more people moved to the desert, cities got bigger. The largest ones now are Phoenix (FEE-niks), Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Highways, railroads, and airports make it easier to get around. People still work on farms, ranches, and mines in these states. But most have jobs in newer industries.
