Crossword Genius

State has endlessly dry area with dam in the middle (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arizona

'state' is the definition.
(Arizona is an example)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for arizona that I've seen before include "Dry US state" , "American state, capital Phoneix" , "US state, home to the Grand Canyon" , "State of southern US" , "State of SW USA" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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