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Title: Colorado Plateau
Text: The Colorado Plateau is found in the so-called Four Corners area where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado meet. This zone is characterized by moderately high elevations (ranging from 5000-6750 feet above sea level) and rugged terrain. The land surfaces consist primarily of flat plateau segments (called mesas) separated from one another by steep walled canyons. Rivers—usually deeply entrenched-- are confined to the valley bottoms; on the mesa tops, water sources are largely limited to springs and seeps. Above about 5000 feet, pinyon-juniper woodlands predominate; below this elevation, shrubs and grasses are the primary vegetation. At the time of European contact, the Colorado Plateau was inhabited by both village farmers (Puebloan people) and forager-farmers (Navajo and Upland Yuman groups).
Title: Rocky Mountains
Text: To the east of the Colorado Plateau is the southernmost portion of the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountain zone consists of a series of rugged mountain chains, encompassing lands ranging in elevation from 5000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. Compared to most areas of the Colorado Plateau province, the Rocky Mountain zone receives more rainfall and is better watered. However, the high elevations cause it to have cool temperatures and short growing seasons which limit agriculture to all but the lowest elevations. This region is characterized by forests of pinyon and juniper (in the lower elevations) and pine and fir (in the higher elevations). Historically, the area was inhabited by both village farmers (Puebloan people) and forager-farmers (Jicarilla Apache).
Title: Central Mountain Zone
Text: The Central Mountain province is found in the central portion of Arizona and western New Mexico. This province follows the Mogollon Rim, an escarpment that separates the Colorado Plateau from the mountains to the south. This area, characterized by ponderosa and pinyon pine forests, is considered a transitional zone between the plateau and the basin and range provinces. It contains high mountains (most of the area lies above 6750 feet above sea level) and steep terrain and experiences cool temperatures and relatively abundant precipitation. Historically, the region was home to Yavapai and Western Apache groups, who made their living by hunting and collecting wild resources and by practicing limited farming.
Title: Desert Basin and Range Region
Text: The fourth, and largest, of the provinces is the Desert Basin and Range region. This zone lies south of the other areas, but also curves northward around them like a crescent. The zone contains a series of parallel mountain ranges separated from one another by alluvium-filled basins. The driest of the four zones found in the Southwest, the Desert Basin and Range area is characterized by low rainfall and desert environments. Shrubs and cacti are the primary plants found away from the drainages, whereas communities of mesquite and palo verde trees cluster near drainages. Historically, this area was occupied by River Yuman tribes (along the Colorado River), Piman Indians (in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona), and the Paiute (in southern Nevada). These groups practiced both rancheria farming (the River Yuman and some Piman groups) and foraging-farming (the Paiute and some Piman groups).

Each slide will describe different physiographic provinces. Change slides by using the arrows or drop-down menu and click the View Text to learn more and "View Slide" to exit the text view.