The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature running across Arizona, extending approximately 400 miles (650 km) from northern Yavapai County eastward to the Mogollon Mountains in southwest New Mexico. The Rim is an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and along its central and most spectacular portions is characterized by high limestone and sandstone cliffs. It was formed by erosion and faulting, and dramatic canyons have been cut into it, including Sycamore Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, West Clear Creek Canyon, Fossil Creek Canyon, and Pine Canyon. State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano (D) Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km² (0. ... Yavapai County is located in the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... State nickname: Land of Enchantment Other U.S. States Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Governor Bill Richardson Official languages English and Spanish Area 315,194 km² (5th)  - Land 314,590 km²  - Water 607 km² (0. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateaus Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. ... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... Red Sandstone in Wyoming Sandstone is an arenaceous sedimentary rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz and varies in colour (in a similar way to sand), through grey, yellow, red, and white. ... Look up Erosion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Severe soil erosion in a wheat field near Washington State University, USA. Erosion is the displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock, and so forth) by the agents of wind, water, ice, movement in response to gravity, or living organisms (in the case... Old fault exposed by roadcut near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. ... Grand Canyon, Arizona A canyon, or gorge, is a valley walled by cliffs. ...

Much of the land below the Mogollon Rim lies 4000 to 5000 feet (1,200 to 1,500 m) above sea level, with the escarpment rising to approximately 7000 feet (2,100 m). Extensive Ponderosa Pine forests are found both on the slopes of the Rim and on the plateau above. It is a major floristic and faunal boundary, with the Rocky Mountains flora and fauna on the top of the ridge northward, and the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental flora and fauna on the lower slopes and the Madrean sky islands mountains further south. For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Binomial name Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a widespread and very variable pine native to western North America. ... In geology and earth science, a plateau (alternatively spelt in a false French spelling plâteau, the real spelling in French being plateau) is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country if the uplift was recent in geologic history. ... Flora is a collective term for plant life. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life, as distinct from Flora (plant life) Fauna is an ancient Roman goddess. ... Rocky Mountain National Park (photo courtesy of NPS) The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico and the extreme southwest of the United States, extending 1500 km from southeast Arizona (south and east of Tucson) southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins with the Sierra Madre Oriental and... The Madrean sky islands are a complex of small mountain ranges in southern Arizona and New Mexico which are home to enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands. ...

The Mogollon Rim's limestones and sandstones were formed from sediments deposited in the Carboniferous and Permian periods. Several of the Rim's rock formations are also found in the walls of the Grand Canyon. In many places the Rim is capped or even buried by extensive basaltic lava flows. Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid. ... The Carboniferous is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 340 million years ago (mya), to the beginning of the Permian period, about 280 mya. ... The Permian is a geologic period that extends from about 280 to 248 million years before the present (mya). ... Grand Cañon at the foot of the Toroweap - looking east, by William Henry Holmes The Grand Canyon is a colorful, steep-sided gorge, carved by the Colorado River, in northern Arizona. ... Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ...

Cities near the Mogollon Rim include Sedona, Camp Verde, Payson, and Show Low. The eastern portion of the Rim was the site of Arizona's largest-ever wildfire in June 2002, the 470,000 acre (1,900 km²) Rodeo-Chediski fire. Other large fires have burned along the Rim since 1990, and the area's Ponderosa Pine forests remain vulnerable due to past fire suppression and fuel build-up. Sedona is a city and community that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai Counties in the Verde Valley of northern Arizona. ... Camp Verde is a town located in Yavapai County, Arizona. ... Payson is a town located in Gila County, Arizona. ... Show Low, Arizona is a town in east central Arizona, on the Mogollon Rim at an elevation of 6,400 feet. ... Fire in San Bernardino, California Mountains (image taken from the International Space Station) A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, brush fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wildland areas, but which can also consume houses or agricultural resources. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rodeo-Chediski fire burned in east-central Arizona from June 18, 2002 and was not controlled until July 7. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a widespread and very variable pine native to western North America. ...

External links

• http://www.troutback.com Come fish the high mountain lakes and streams of Arizona's White Mountains.