It sounds completely backwards at first. How could a landlocked desert state possibly have more shoreline than a coastal giant like California?

But surprisingly, Arizona does, at least depending on how you measure it. 🧐

When most people think of shoreline, they picture ocean coastline. By that definition, California clearly wins, with about 840 miles of Pacific coastline.

But shoreline can also include the edges of lakes and reservoirs. And this is where Arizona flips the script.

Arizona is home to several massive lakes and reservoirs, many of which were created along the Colorado River. These bodies of water have long, winding edges that dramatically increase total shoreline.

For example:

• Lake Powell has nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline alone, thanks to its twisting canyon geography.

When you combine all of Arizona’s lakes and reservoirs, the total shoreline stretches into the thousands of miles.

Here is where things get a little fuzzy. Shoreline measurements can vary depending on water levels, especially in reservoirs that rise and fall with drought conditions.

There is also a difference between measuring a smooth coastline versus a jagged, winding lake edge. The more twists and turns, the more shoreline you rack up.

That is why you will often hear this fact framed as a bit of trivia rather than a strict apples-to-apples comparison.

What makes this fact even more interesting is the contrast. Arizona’s shoreline is not sandy beaches and crashing waves. It is red rock cliffs, desert hills, and deep blue water cutting through canyon walls.

Places like Lake Powell and Lake Havasu offer boating, fishing, and waterfront recreation that feel completely different from coastal environments, but just as scenic.

So does Arizona really have more shoreline than California?

In total lake and reservoir shoreline, yes, it can exceed California’s ocean coastline. But it depends on how you define and measure it. One could also argue that most of Lake Powell is in Utah, but I guess that is why this is a trivia question and a bit of fun.

Either way, it is a great reminder that Arizona is more diverse than most people expect. Beyond the desert heat, there is a surprising amount of water and a whole different kind of shoreline waiting to be explored.

Some of the images you see in the newsletter are created using modern AI image tools. Whenever possible, I use my own photos from around Sun City and the West Valley, but sometimes it is helpful to generate an image that better illustrates a story or historical topic. These images are used simply to supplement the articles and help tell the story visually, not to mislead or deceive readers.