gila

Gila is a toponym and ethnonym used for several places and natural features in the Southwestern United States, as well as for the Gila monster, a venomous lizard. The name is most closely associated with the Gila River and its watershed, and appears in the names of protected areas and tribal communities in the region.

The Gila River is a major tributary of the Colorado River. Its headwaters lie in the Mogollon Rim region of New Mexico, and the river flows generally west through New Mexico and into southern Arizona, where it meets the Colorado River near Yuma. The river supports agricultural and urban water needs in its watershed, and the Gila River Indian Community, located in central Arizona, derives its name from the river.

Gila National Forest in New Mexico encompasses a large, rugged landscape that includes the Gila Wilderness, the first designated wilderness area in the United States. The forest preserves canyons, volcanic formations, and significant cultural sites, including the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument near Silver City, which dates to approximately 1275–1300 and was built by the Mogollon culture.

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is a large venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Known for its distinctive bead-like skin and slow movement, it inhabits deserts and arid regions where it escapes many predators.

The Gila River Indian Community is a federally recognized tribe of Pima and Maricopa people living along the Gila River in Arizona. In addition to these entries, the name Gila appears in various other geographic and cultural contexts tied to the region.