The Southwestern United States

geography · history · desert · culture

Desert and Heat. The Southwest is famous for its enormous deserts, including the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts, where temperatures can soar and water is scarce. Many people think of tumbleweeds and wide-open spaces when they picture this region.

Major Cities. Phoenix, Las Vegas, El Paso, Albuquerque, and Tucson are the biggest cities in the Southwest, each with hundreds of thousands of people. It's remarkable that such large, thriving cities grew in one of the hottest and driest parts of the country.

Made Part of the U.S.. Until 1848, most of the Southwest belonged to Mexico, not the United States. The U.S. acquired this enormous territory through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War, and then bought a small additional piece called the Gadsden Purchase in 1854.

Native Pueblos and Spanish Towns. Before the 1848 takeover, very few settlements existed in the Southwest except for Native American pueblos and Spanish or Mexican towns, especially around Santa Fe, New Mexico. These early communities shaped the region's culture, architecture, and food.

Diverse Landscape. Beyond deserts, the Southwest has mountains, canyons, and plateaus that create amazing scenery. The Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, and countless other natural wonders make this region incredibly varied and beautiful.