Sonoita River is a river in southern Arizona. It takes its name from the abandoned Pima mission in the high valley near Sonoita. It flows steadily for the first fifteen miles of its westward course past Patagonia, its bird sanctuary and Patagonia Lake, but sinks beneath the sand seven to eight miles before joining the Santa Cruz a few miles north of Nogales. This confluence provides water for Tumacácori and Tubac and collects in the marsh lands around San Xavier del Bac to the north. The Santa Rita Mountains lie to the north and the Patagonia Mountains to the south. Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano (D) Senators John McCain (R) Jon Kyl (R) Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km... The Pima are a group of Native Americans living in central and southern Arizona and what is now Mexico. ... Sonoita is a census-designated place located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. ... Patagonia is a town located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. ... The Santa Cruz River is a river in southern Arizona, United States. ... Nogales, Santa Cruz Co. ... Tumacacori-Carmen is a census-designated place located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. ... Tubac is a census-designated place located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. ... San Xavier del Bac (Papago Va:k) is a historic Spanish mission about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Tucson, Arizona on the Tohono Oodham Reservation. ... The Santa Rita Mountains is a mountain range extending 42 km (26 mi) from northwest to southeast, located 65 km (40 mi) southeast of Tucson, Arizona. ...

On November 17, 1856, the United States Army established Fort Buchanan along its banks in an effort to control the newly acquired Gadsden Purchase. Jump to: navigation, search 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Fort Buchanan is the name of two United States Army forts: Fort Buchanan, Arizona is a former United States Army base in Arizona to control land purchased in the Gadsden Purchase. ... The Gadsden Purchase (shown with present-day state boundaries and cities) The Gadsden Purchase is a 29,640 mi² (77,700 km²) region of what is today southern Arizona and New Mexico that was purchased by the United States from Mexico in 1853. ...

In the 1890s several stone artifacts were discovered a few feet beneath the surface near the beginning of the river. The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no...

External links

• Patagonia Lake State Park and Sonoita Creek State Natural Area