Tucson is a big city of the the United States, the second in importance of the state of the Arizona, behind the capital Phoenix. In 2003, its population was estimated at 515  526 inhabitants. In 2007, the agglomeration of Tucson counts 924  786 inhabitants. Tucson is the seat of the Comté of Pima.

The native inhabitants of the area are Yaqui and Tohono O' odham. Colonization began in 1700 with the establishment of the Mission San Xavier del Bac under the impulse of a missionary Spanish Jesuit, Eusobio Francisco Kino. When the Mexico obtains its independence in 1821, the city becomes Mexican. It is integrated into the United States in 1853, by the transaction known under the name of Achat Gadsden.

Geography

Tucson is located at.

According to the Office of the census of the United States, the city has an total surface area of 505,3 km ², including 504,2 km ² of ground and 1,1 km ² of water levels, are 0,22% of the total. The city is located at 728 m above the sea level, in a valley surrounded by five minor assembly lines: the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains in north, the Santa Rita Mountains in the south, the Rincon Mountains in the east, and the Tucson Mountains in the west. Santa Catalina Mountains are known to include/understand Mount Lemon, the Ski station located more at the south of the the continental United States.

Tucson is located along the I-10, which passes by Phoenix towards Santa Monica, in California at the North-West, and by El Paso, with the Texas, in direction of Jacksonville in the east, in Florida. The I-19, to the south of Tucson, moves as for it towards the south while passing by Nogales and the border with the Mexico.

Climate

Annual precipitations: 281 mm Average temperature: 21,1 °C

Economy

The saving in Tucson is clearly dominated by the services. The Université of Arizona was created in Tucson in 1885. Today still, this institution contributes largely to the economic activity of the city, of which it is the second employer (10  500 paid). One also finds in Tucson an air base of U.S. Air Force (Davis-Montan Air Force Bases, 8  200 employment). Industries of high technology employ 50  000 people in the area, the principal company being the manufacturer of Missile S, Raytheon (11  000 employment). Each year, in February, Tucson the Gem organizes & Mineral Show , gigantic living room devoted to the mineral and the gem S. the exposure, distributed in all the city, attracts 35  000 visitors coming from a score of country. Lastly, Tucson is a great tourist center, proposer of many hotels, activities and attractions cultural.

Biosphere II

To note the proximity of the experiment Biosphere II, located in the desert at the north of Tucson. In plastic greenhouses inflatable, the majority of the plants grow on an inactive support: for example, of pure sand. Nutritive water and the other elements are brought to the roots by a system of very fine buried pipes. This process avoids the water wasting which inevitably occurs, by loss, during traditional watering. Strings help the tomato seedlings to develop in height and one needs stilts to reach their feet because their roots plunge in large vats full of water. The lettuce seedlings push on tilted polystyrene plates: by this method, one can double the number of salads produced with the square meter. The white roots of salads hang outside the house of cards out of polystyrene. Just as the roots with naked of the tomato seedlings, they are maintained in wet atmosphere. Periodically, a clock starts an apparatus which diffuses a light fog of nutritive solution. The director of ERL seeks new plants unceasingly to cultivate. Its currency: to find a use for all. For example, to employ plants Halophyte S like fodder.

Twinnings

To see

• Arizona-Sonora Serves Museum , botanical garden which presents more than 1400 species of plants, in particular of the Cactus.

• Pima Air & Space Museum , museum of Plane S soldiers of various times.

Anecdote

• Tucson is the city where the group Giant Sand was established.

Gallery

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