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| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
The population of Arizona is booming. People move here to seek a higher quality of life. Growth has brought many opportunities. More people mean there is a wider choice of jobs, schools, recreation and entertainment.
Growth also brings many problems, traffic congestion, air pollution, and a strain on water and energy sources. These problems threaten the environment that brings people to Arizona in the first place.
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more about Arizona's growth
The Suburbs
Today most of Arizona's growth is taking place in the suburbs. About three-fourths of Arizona's people live in Phoenix or Tucson areas. Cars and highways let people live farther away from where they work. The areas outside the cities, with rows of houses and yards, are called suburbs.
Suburbs have taken over some of Arizona's best farmlands and open spaces. Many farmers have to sell their land to people who build homes. Building highways has added to this problem.
Transportation Problems
People in Arizona depend on cars for transportation. It is the only way that most people can get to where they are going. But some areas in Arizona do not have a system of highways to move the traffic. During rush hours, the streets are very crowded. All of the cars are a major source of air pollution.
Water
As Arizona's population grew we needed more water and electricity. Other states needed these things, too. People began to build dams on rivers to meet these needs. In 1956, work began on the Glen Canyon Dam. At first, nearly everyone liked the idea of building Glen Canyon Dam. The water provides electricity for Phoenix and other cities in the West. It also provides recreation. Lake Powell was formed when the river water was backed up behind the dam.
Other people did not want the dam to be built. They were sad to see Glen Canyon flooded. The dam has also hurt the animals and plants living in the Grand Canyon. For example, the cold water released from Lake Powell killed many warm water fish.
