The University is located in Tucson, the second largest city in Arizona with a population of over 650,000. Tucson, which is only 90 miles from Mexico, is at an altitude of about 2600 feet in a valley surrounded by four mountain ranges. Throughout most of the year the climate is dry and mild. In winter, temperatures seldom reach freezing.
Summers are hot, but the low humidity and clear skies make for mild evenings with cooling breezes.
The thunder showers of the late summer monsoon add to the variation of the yearly weather cycle. Tucson offers a wide range of cultural and recreational facilities. The art community has a national reputation. For visual arts, excellent regional and international collections are housed at the Tucson Museum of Art. The University of Arizona is the home of the internationally famous Center for Creative Photography.