7 Remotely Interesting Facts about Tucson and Arizona

1. Its hot!
2. Speedway Boulevard in Tucson (just north of uni) is thus named because it used to host Horse and Cart drag racing events! Blink and you'll miss it!
3. The hills to the west and east of Tucson are the only places in the world you'll find Saguaro Cacti growing in the wild! You can even give one a cuddle on campus if you so like.
4. Yuma, Arizona is the driest city in the USA. Las Vegas is 2nd and Pheonix is 4th. Tucson is the 4th sunniest city in the USA.
5. The river bed of the Colorado River flowing through the grand-canyon is thought to be at the same altitude as it was millions of years ago despite the obvious canyon it has eroded. Scientists estimate that the rate of isostatic rebound (ground uplift) is similar to erosion.
6. In 2002, a new glass look-out plaza was opened in Grand Canyon village complete with "canyon view" restaurant and shops. From no point in the complex can you see the canyon!
7. The University of Arizona is the first university in the world to manage a Mars Mission. The University of Leicester of course had high involvement in the failed Beagle landers. The Phoenix Mars explorer blasted off from Florida a week ago on its 10 month journey to the red planet. Upon arrival, undergraduate students at the UA will play an active role in exploring and analysing the northern ice cap for signs of previous habitation.