Colorado general data
- Time zone: 8 hours less than Italy
- Capital: Denver
- Main towns: Colorado Spring, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Pueblo
- Area: 998 km²
- Population: 5,400,000 inhabitants approximately.
- Population density: 20 residents / km²
- State abbreviation: CO
- Entry into the United States: It joins the United States on August 1, 1876, it is the 38th state to join the union
Before the state, this was the name of the river that, flowing into the Grand Canyon, colored the waters red. Colorado is a predominantly mountainous state as 40% of its territory is part of the Rocky Mountains. With more than fifty peaks above 4,200 meters, the highest point in the area is Mount Elbert, which reaches 4,399 meters. Colorado’s average elevation is above 2,000 meters and the lowest elevation (found in the Arkansas River bed) is 1,020 meters above sea level. The Colorado Territory has the three major geographic regions of the western United States: the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains (southern sector), and the Colorado Plateau. The Rocky Mountains, that in the territory forming an S, extend from the border with New Mexico, in the south-east, to the state of Wyoming, in the north-east. The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are divided into two sections: the eastern part where the Front Range, Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Wet Mountains are located, and the western section, with the Park Range, Sawatch and San Juan Mountains. The Colorado River is born in the Middle Park. In general, the eastern slopes are suitable for agriculture, while the western ones are interspersed with rivers, which have formed deep valleys.
The High Plains, which occupy two-fifths of Colorado, and extend west of the state as a natural extension of the Great Plains, which occupy parts of the Kansas and Nebraska territories.
According to thembaprograms.com, the Colorado Highlands region has three distinct units: the Uinta Basin, the Black Canyon region that Colorado shares with Utah and New Mexico, and the Navajo section. The Uinta basin is an arid region subjected to continuous erosion by the White River and its tributaries. The Black Canyon region includes the Book Plateau, between the Colorado and White Rivers, the Mesa Grande, between the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, and the Uncompahgre Plateau, between the Gunnison and Dolores River. Finally, the Navajo section is made up of plains where the San Juan River originates.
Several major rivers of the United States originate in the territory of Colorado. The Colorado River, which formed the Grand Canyon in Arizona, originates on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and flows southwest. The Rio Grande originates in the San Juan Mountains, and flows through the state of Colorado before entering New Mexico. The Arkansas River flows through the central part of the state to the east, then enters the state of Kansas. The North Platte and South Platte Rivers, which flow through the states of Wyoming and Nebraska, originate in Colorado.
Flora and fauna– In Colorado, five faunal zones can be distinguished, in relation to the climate and the morphology of the territory. In the eastern plains, up to an altitude of 1830 m, there are grasslands rich in wild flowers where hares and various other species of burrowing mammals live. In the intermediate area, which reaches 2400 m, there is a thicket of junipers, pines and many other tree species, inhabited by gray foxes, molfette and raccoons. The mountainous area (over 3050 m) has a very varied vegetation dominated by firs, pines and poplars. The subalpine area (above 3500 m) is characterized by vast forests of spruce and pine trees. Above 3500 m, in the Alpine area, there are mosses and lichens. The mountain fauna consists of the Rocky Mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis), pumas, bears, coyotes, marmots. There are also numerous rare or endangered species such as the brown bear, the otter, the lynx.
Climate – The climate of Colorado is, in general, dry and sunny, with temperate winds typical of the west of the United States, although sometimes polar currents come from the north, or tropical winds from the south from New Mexico. The climatic variations in Colorado are significant, given the large differences in altitude of the natural regions of the state. Thus, the climate of the Rocky Mountain area is alpine, with moderate temperatures during the summer days, and very cold during the winter, when there is snowfall. In the prairies east and west of the Rocky Mountains, the climate is more uniform.
Denver: Capital of Colorado
According to countryaah.com, Denver is the capital of the state of Colorado. Known for its height, 1,609 m asl, also called the Mile High City. Denver is a manufacturing, trading, financial center, and an important region for cattle raising and mining in the Rocky Mountains. It is one of the largest sheep markets in the world and one of the most important for cattle west of the Mississippi; headquarters of many of the country’s government agencies and, in addition, has a large number of companies operating in the field of research and development of high-tech products. Among the main products are: rubber, food, electronic equipment, construction and mining material, aerospace materials, railway equipment and chemicals.
What see– Large parks, a lively center and a number of well-known museums are the characteristics of the city, in a beautiful location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Denver offers visitors all kinds of attractions, from historic sites typical of the 19th century West to modern amusement parks. The geographic, cultural and political heart of Denver is Civic Center Park, dominated by the Colorado State Capitol. To the south is the Colorado History Museum, with an extensive chronology on the wall that traces the history of the state. Continuing counterclockwise in the park you will find the Denver Art Museum. It is one of the best museums in the city, with a collection of Western art and Native American items. Finally, one block west of the park is the Denver Mint, one of the four US mints, which mintes more than ten billion coins a year. Denver’s original core, Larimer Square remains the commercial and cultural heart of the city. In the square, activity is buzzing day and night, among boutiques, galleries, bars and restaurants. After the devastating fire of 1863, wooden constructions were banned. For this reason the red brick Victorian architecture dominates the square and the adjacent Lower Downtown area (called “LoDo”). Today it is a neighborhood full of clubs, known for its jazz clubs, discos and microbreweries. About 2 miles east of downtown is Denver’s largest park, offering a variety of activities. The park also has two of the city’s best-loved attractions, the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The Center for the Arts, is a ‘
Among the festivals and recreational activities: the traditional Rodeo, held annually in January, for twelve days and offers musical performances, fairs and presentations of the most famous rodeo cowboys. The parade in honor of St. Patrick in March is the second largest in the country. Finally, the Colorado Renaissance Festival is celebrated every weekend in June and July.
History– Although in the 14th century the Spaniards explored the region where Denver is today, Europeans did not settle there until the mid-19th century, when gold was discovered. Although the gold boom was short-lived, some of the adventurers who came in search of the metal settled permanently and began an era of prosperity that extended until the end of the 19th century, thanks to a second boom, that of silver.. However, with the collapse of the international price of silver, the city, the capital of the state of Colorado since 1876, entered a phase of decline that forced it to diversify its economic base to rely more on agriculture, livestock and tourism. According to topschoolsoflaw.com, the period of slow growth lasted until the 1930s.
World War II caused another economic boom in Denver, thanks to the state military supply companies and the air base that established there. The 1970s saw Denver enter a severe recession caused by the oil crisis. However, the recession had some positive effects, and efforts were stepped up to diversify the economy. Thus, Denver has become a major research center for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. By 1980, more than a thousand companies involved in energy research and production had settled in Denver. Where once there was a dusty frontier city, a modern and sophisticated metropolis now stands. Denver is today the commercial axis.
Denver Useful Numbers
Emergencies: 911
Non-Emergency Police:
(720) 913-2000
Denver
Health Medical Center
777 Bannock Street Denver, CO 80204-4507
Phone: (303) 436-6000
Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital
1835 Franklin Street Denver, CO 80218 Telephone: (303) 837-7111
Porter Adventist Hospital
2525 South Downing Street Denver, CO 80210 Telephone: (303) 778-1955 Telephone area code – 303 – 720
City data
Population – approximately 660,000
Area – 400 sq km
Area code – 303 – 720
