Colorado mountains on the map. Colorado Rockies

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Tour of Denver, the state capital.

The city's most important landmark is the late 19th-century Colorado State Capitol, a massive white granite building topped by a 55-meter gold dome.

Lower Downtown, which is called LoDo for short, is a walk through the old district.

Let's visit the Molly Brown House Museum. The “unsinkable” Lady Molly Brown, one of the few surviving passengers on the Titanic, lived in a large Denver mansion in the 1880s. Today you can see not only original furniture from the period, but also a lot of charming antique trinkets on a tour.

Another pretentious mansion worthy of a visit is the residence of the Governor of Colorado. The history of the mansion, full of famous names of aristocratic residents of Colorado, and the interiors of the building are noteworthy.

The triangular-shaped Brown Palace hotel, built in 1892 in the very center of the city, hosted Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and even the defeated Beatles. They all left their autographs in the hotel guest book. At the end of the tour, afternoon tea awaits - a long-standing Brown Palace tradition that is not forgotten for a single day. Anyone can join.

A very calm and charming place is the Botanical Garden.

On the way to the National Park we stop in the town of Boulder. Pearl Street is a cozy street with a variety of souvenir shops, galleries and cafes.

This city has long been loved by hippies, and generations of them have had a great time here.

In the surrounding area there are a number of hippie communes, and indeed various communities in general, trying to leave worldly affairs and devote themselves to spiritual things.

“Pearl” not only of the state of Colorado, but of the entire country - National Park Rocky Mountains(Rocky Mountains National Park).

Alpine landscapes are so mesmerizing and alluring with their beauty that National Park It gets crowded with tourists from time to time. Every year in national park there are more than three million people.

Anyone who truly loves mountains will never be able to resist the sight of amazing mountain landscapes, crystal clear rivers and lakes. If you stop following the beaten tourist paths, you can easily find many places where you can calmly contemplate the beauty pristine nature. In the National Nature Reserve total area There are more than 370 hiking trails over 1,075 square kilometers.

The paths vary in their difficulty, some of them go through protected areas. On many trails it is allowed to ride horses, which you and I will not use.

The most popular mining ski resorts in states that allow you to actively spend your winter vacation. But it’s beautiful here even in summer - the landscape is rightfully considered magnificent, how many poems and songs have American poets composed about this pearl of Colorado...

Hiking trails run through rocky mountains, alpine lakes, tundra, aspen groves, forests and meadows strewn with bright mountain flowers. Cannot be found best place to experience the full range of mountain beauty than Rocky Mountain National Park in the Rocky Mountains.

The next point is the famous Colorado Springs.

The city is located in picturesque place at the foot of the mountains, and lies at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, with some areas significantly higher.

Colorado Springs was founded on July 31, 1871 by William Jackson Palmer, who was involved in the construction of railroads. Palmer was so impressed by the view of the valley at the foot of the mountains that he purchased the land and founded a settlement. From the very beginning, Palmer had a desire to found a resort town, and the surrounding area only favored this. In the very near future, onlookers, settlers and gold seekers flocked to Colorado Springs. The first tourists also appeared, attracted by the beautiful area, clean mountain air, sun, mineral waters and a very dry climate. Over time, the flow of gold and silver seekers dried up, but there were more and more tourists.

Colorado Springs is home to two major air bases, the United States Air Force Academy, and Fort Carson. These 4 military installations are the largest employers in the region. In addition, in the vicinity of Colorado Springs, under Cheyenne Mountain, the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) command center, responsible for missile defense, is based. The NORAD complex was built at the height of the Cold War with the USSR and at one time caused concern local residents who believe that the city could be the target of a Soviet nuclear strike.

Most tourists come to Colorado Springs to admire the local nature. In close proximity to Colorado Springs there is Pikes Peak (4302 meters), which attracts thousands of people. It is believed that this is the second mountain in the world after Fuji in terms of the number of tourists. To see the most beautiful landscapes you need to climb up railway Cog Railway, by car or on foot trails. Each option is interesting and extreme in its own way. Every year, Pikes Peak Mountain hosts two popular sporting events: the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (a race to the top in cars of various classes) and the Pikes Peak Marathon (a marathon).

Another mountain worthy of attention is Cheyenne Mountain.

We will take a walk through the Cheyenne Canyon.

The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are also located here. These Colorado Springs attractions are located close to each other and are very popular among tourists.

We will take a lift to this only high-mountain zoo in the country.

Next - a tour of the old city of Old Colorado City, which was one of the centers of the American Gold Rush, and today attracts tourists with historical places of the past, souvenir and art shops, bars and cafes.

We will also visit the Wild West Museum.

And we will visit the Cave of the Winds in a picturesque mountain canyon.

Midwestern town - Manitou Springs.

If desired, we can swim in the healing hot springs.

In this town there is the legendary Indian Cliff Dwellings museum, consisting of two parts: the first - under open air a museum of an ancient Anasazi Indian settlement in the red rocks of Colorado, the second is a gift gallery together with indoor museum rooms.

Very close to the city limits of Colorado Springs there is a park area called the “Garden of the Gods”. The main attraction of the Garden of the Gods are the bizarre orange rocks created over the years by wind erosion. The park has many hiking and biking trails, allowing you to take an unusual walk among the wonderful geological formations.

We will do a short hike along the mountain route - Red Rock Open Space Canyon.

We will pass it on the way to the magnificent Royal Gorge Bridge Park - the world's highest suspension bridge over an abyss-gorge.

And one of the best experiences for all tourists is rafting on the Arkansas River. The pleasure is simply indescribable, both for children from five years old and for all adults without exception.

An hour and a half drive from Colorado Springs is the gold mining town of Cripple Creek. He's surrounded mountain ranges on all sides and is located at an altitude of 2 miles above sea level (almost 3 km).

This trip will be of interest to those who not only love nature and fresh air, but are also interested in the history of the North American Gold Rush and the gambling business.

We will go for a walk in the mountains, then take the elevator down to the Molly Katlin gold mine for a tour, visit the museum of the history of the development of the Wild West region of the United States, walk through the streets and casinos of the town, where not so long ago blood was shed in the struggle for wealth or honor.

And if there is time left, we will take a ride on an open excursion train to the Golden Valley.

The state of Colorado is one of two (together with the state) "rectangular" US states, limited by two parallels (from 37° to 41° north latitude) and two meridians (from 102°03" to 109°03" west longitude).

Colorado's topography is extremely diverse. Here you can see vast plains and high mountains, canyons and plateaus.

Colorado is the only US state whose entire territory has an altitude above sea level of more than one kilometer (the lowest point in Colorado is 1,011 meters above sea level). The most high point Colorado - Mount Elbert (4401 meters, the highest peak and the second highest in the continental United States, after Mount Whitney).

Numerous Rocky Mountain ranges stretch across the state of Colorado from north to south. Fifty-four in Colorado mountain peaks, whose height exceeds fourteen thousand feet (4,270 meters), US climbers call them "fourteeners" ( fourteeners).

Up to an altitude of 3,200 - 3,600 meters above sea level, the mountains are covered with coniferous forests; higher up there are alpine meadows, and even higher - snow-capped peaks. Snow on the peaks of the Rocky Mountains generally melts in mid-August, with the exception of a few glaciers.

It passes along the ridges of the Rocky Mountains, dividing the river basins of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

East of the Rocky Mountains is the Eastern Colorado Plain, a vast high (more than a thousand meters above sea level) plain that is part of the United States region. Although Colorado is a , the Eastern Plains region is often classified as a .

Here, in the plains and eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the majority of Colorado's population lives. Most cities are also located here, the largest of which is the capital of the state of Colorado.

The largest rivers in eastern Colorado are the Arkansas and South Platte.

The climate in eastern Colorado is temperate continental and semi-arid. Most precipitation falls from April to September, with alternating dry spells and heavy thunderstorms.

The region is characterized by large daily temperature differences. The average temperature in July is 13°C at night and 27°C during the day, in January -12°C at night and -1°C during the day.

West of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado is the Colorado Plateau, part of the region

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Colorado

In the original: Colorado
Capital:Denver)
Joined the United States: August 1, 1876
Square: 269.7 thousand sq. km
Population: 5.024 thousand people (2009)
Largest cities: Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora Lakewood, Fort Collins, Arvada, Pueblo, Westminster, Boulder, Thornton

Colorado is a state famous for the stunning natural landscapes of the Rocky Mountain belt.

The spectacular unique beauty of snow-capped cliffs covered with coniferous forests and the mild climate of the state, surrounded and protected from the winds by a belt of mountains, have made Colorado a center summer tourism USA.

In winter, the snowy mountain slopes, sparkling under the warm rays of the sun, attract ski lovers. Having fallen in love with the famous ski resorts of the state, numerous tourists come to Colorado not only from the USA, but also from all over the world. Every year, millions of visitors to the state flock to Colorado's famous mountain destinations of Aspen, East Park and Colorado Springs.

But it's not just Colorado's mountains that attract tourists that provide huge revenue to the state's treasury. Most of the state's citizens live and work in its eastern part, a dry, flat area that covers two-fifths of Colorado.

Tunnels cut into the mountains bring water to the dry prairies, big cities and farming areas of the state. Colorado lands are located midway between the central cities of California and the US Midwest. Therefore, the state serves as the main transport artery and cargo sorting center for the entire Rocky Mountain region.

Colorado companies are leaders in many industries. The most important branches of the state's agricultural industry include meat and dairy cattle breeding and sheep breeding. State reclamation projects have allowed Colorado farmers to successfully grow potatoes, grains, and sugar beets. Areas of what were once dry desert prairies are now home to endless fields of corn.

One of the most important sectors of the state's economy is the mining industry. In 1850, Colorado experienced its first "mining boom."

Stories of the Colorado Gold and Silver Rush, dating back to 1850, are passed down as legends. Famous musicals such as the comedy "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and the opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" well describe the events that took place in Colorado during the "mining boom."

Colorado mines still produce gold and silver. But now the state's most important mining industry is oil, as well as gasoline production.

Colorado is the leading US state in molybdenum mining and steel production. One of the United States "mints" is located in the capital of Colorado, the city of Denver.

The state owns more than a third of Colorado's land. The US government controls the use of these areas for grazing and mining.

The government is also a major customer of Colorado companies in the space instrumentation industry. Near the city of Colorado Springs is the Air Force Academy, whose headquarters are located at the foot of Mount Shaen, and the funding center is in the state capital, Denver.

In Spanish, the word "colorado" means "colored red." This name was originally given to the Colorado River, which flowed through a canyon of rocks whose rocks had a reddish hue. The state was named after the river. Otherwise, Colorado is also called the “Centennial State”, since Colorado entered the US Union in 1876 - the centenary year of the famous Declaration of Independence. The largest city in the state is its capital, Denver.

Colorado State Flag and Seal

In 1911, the state of Colorado passed an official flag law. The red letter "C" stands for "Colorado", which is translated from Spanish, reads as “colored red”. A gold ball inside the "C" indicates the presence of gold mines in the state. The blue and white stripes on the flag symbolize the blue skies and white snows of the Colorado Rockies.

On the state's coat of arms, which was officially adopted in 1877, the triangular figure symbolizes the all-seeing eye of God. The coat of arms also features the state's mountains, land, and a pickaxe, which symbolize Colorado's mining industry, the backbone of the state's economy.

Colorado is located in an elevated area. Its lands lie at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level, and this is the highest state in the state.

The first charitable organization in the state capital, Denver, was a relief fund created in 1887, established by a priest, a rabbi and two ministers. The foundation was named "Charity Organization Society".

The largest silver nugget ever found in North America, was discovered in 1894 in the Aspen area. The nugget weighed 835 kg and to this day it is the largest silver bar in the world.

There was a time when Colorado had three governors on the same day. In 1905, Alva Adams was the state's governor. But after two months of serving in this post, he was forced to resign because he was convicted of election fraud. On March 17, 1905, Adams resigned as governor, and the state legislature called James H. Peabody to the post of governor. He refused the offered position, and on the same day the office of the state governor was headed by former Lieutenant Governor Jesse McDonald.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument is called one of nature's most amazing wonders. These huge masses of sand, lying at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south central Colorado, are constantly moving and taking on bizarre shapes. Sometimes the height of sand dunes reaches 210 meters.

The center of business, financial and industrial activity of the state, Colorado Springs is the largest tourist center state, and also a military center, in the area of ​​​​which there are several military bases, including the Air Force Academy. Largest city in western Colorado is Grand Junction.

Museums, tourism

The Denver Art Museum has a large collection of American Indian artifacts, and the Denver Museum of Natural History has a large exhibit of animals from the continent.

The beautiful state attracts millions of tourists every year. In the summer, visitors to Colorado fill the high-altitude ski resorts. On the slopes of mountains, in forests, near the banks of mountain streams, tourists place their tent camps and campsites. Climbers try their hand at climbing the many peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Old mining towns and Indian villages are of interest to tourists and local historians. Fishing enthusiasts catch trout in the clean mountain rivers of the state. In the fall, hunters roam the state's forests in search of the abundant deer.

In the winter, the Aspen ski resorts of Arapahoe Basin, Steamboat Springs, Vail and Winter Park fill up again. The ski season in Colorado begins in November and ends in April.

In the city of Grand Junction there is The Dinosaur Valley Museum, which presents a collection of fossil animals from the prehistoric period.

Nature of the state

The main areas of Colorado are the Colorado Plateau; Mezhgorye; Rocky Mountains; Great Prairie.

(The Colorado Plateau) lies along the western border of the state and occupies a fifth of its territory. It is an area of ​​high hills, plateaus and valleys. On these lands, farmers grow various varieties of cereal crops. And in the summer months, numerous herds of cows and sheep graze in the meadows of the plateau.

Mizhgorye(Intermontane Basin) is located in the north of the plateau and is the smallest region of the state. It is a region of small rolling hills that lie between the mountains in the northwest of the state. The word "intermontane" means "between the mountains". This area of ​​rolling hills is covered with forests and meadows, which provide excellent pasture for sheep.

(The Rocky Mountains) lie in central Colorado and cover two-fifths of the state. The Colorado Mountains are called the Roof of North America.

About 55 highest peaks, rising 4,270 km above sea level, are located in this region. These heights are the highest peaks chain of the Rocky Mountains that stretches from Alaska to New Mexico.

The Rocky Mountains, in turn, also consist of five mountain ranges: Front Range, Park Range, Sawatch Range, San Juan Mountains, Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The eastern group of the Front Range includes such high mountains as Mount Evans (4348 meters high), Longs Peak (4345 meters high), Pikes Peak (4301 meters high) and other mountains that increase in height to the west from Denver and Colorado Springs.

The Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountain range lies in the south of the Front Range. Together mountain ranges The Front Range and Sangre de Cristo form a wall that encloses the Great Prairie region in the eastern part of the state.

Great Prairie eastern Colorado covers approximately two-fifths of the state. The Colorado Great Prairie region is part of the vast North American Plain that stretches from Canada to Mexico. It rises gently from east to west from the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Farmers once considered these areas unsuitable for agriculture. But modern irrigation projects in the valleys have made the once dry lands suitable for vast areas of agro-industrial activity.

Rivers and lakes

The most important rivers in many states originate from the largest water artery - the Colorado River.

The headwaters of the three major Mississippi-Missouri water systems are located on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. These are the Arkansas, South Platte and Republican rivers.

In the western Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River originates in Grand Lake. It flows through the Middle Park region to southwestern Utah and occupies a twelfth of the United States.

Several major tributaries of the Colorado River, including the Uncompahgre, Gunnison, San Juan, and Dolores, are also water resources State of Colorado.

The Rio Grande River, which flows in the east and south of Colorado and crosses its border with New Mexico, also originates in the area of ​​the San Juan River. And the Nose Platte River originates on the lands of North Park and carries its waters to the state of Wyoming.

Vegetation

Due to the vast differences in altitude and humidity, Colorado's lands support a wide variety of plant varieties.

An interesting species diversity of cacti and other desert plants, which can be found in abundance in the arid regions of the state. The most common type of grass is buffalo grass. In spring, sand lilies, buttercups, and yarrows bloom. In summer - columbines, lilacs, Indian tassels, mountain lilies, daisies, irises and roses.

More than a third of the state's territory is covered by coniferous forests: various species of aspen, spruce and pine, as well as various types of maples.

Climate

Colorado's climate is predominantly dry and sunny. But since there is a difference in altitude between different parts of the state, the air temperature also varies depending on the location of the region. It is always colder in the mountains than in the valleys and plateaus.

In the city of Burlington, located on the flatlands, the average temperature in January is -2°C. And in the city of Leadville, which is located in the mountains, in January it is –8°C. The difference in summer temperatures for the same cities is +23°C in Burlington and +13°C in Leadville.

The highest air temperature recorded in Colorado was in July 1888 in the city of Bennett. It was +48 °C. And the lowest temperature was on February 1, 1985 in the city of Maybell, when the thermometer showed -52 °C!

Production

Colorado's manufacturing turnover is $19 billion annually. Mostly, the state's production receives semi-finished products, which Colorado plants and factories bring to the final standard of finished goods.

Colorado's leading industrial manufacturing industries are computer and electronics. About 60% of the state's export production is made up of electronics, the so-called "high-tech sector." Computers and electronics manufacturing are the dominant industry in the state. Companies producing electronics and computer equipment are located in the cities of Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver and Fort Collins.

Other equally important industries in Colorado include the production of medical equipment and parts for various electrical devices.

The second leading industry in Colorado is the manufacture of special machines and units for food production. Brewing equipment, conveyors for bottling drinks, lines for packaging meat products - these are the main mechanized lines for the food industry produced in Colorado.

The third largest brewing company in the United States, Coors Brewing Company, has its “headquarters” in the Colorado city of Golden. In addition, several other large American brewing companies locate their production facilities in Fort Collins.

Other leading industries in the state include transportation equipment, chemical manufacturing, and metallurgy. Automotive engine parts and aerospace equipment are the state's most important manufacturing assets. Colorado leads the nation in the production of pharmaceuticals and cleaning and coating materials.

Mining industry

Oil, coal and natural gas are the most important products of Colorado's mining industry. Rio Blanco County, located in the northwest of the state, produces greatest number Colorado oil. The oil deposits of these lands contain half of the state's underground petroleum reserves. In addition, extensive oil deposits have also been discovered in the east of Denver.

Agriculture

About 60% of Colorado's land is agricultural land. There are about 29 thousand different farms in the state. From huge ranches to small "truck" vegetable gardens.

Livestock and livestock products account for two-thirds of the state's agricultural output. Beef production is Colorado's primary farming industry, and the state is one of the top suppliers of beef to the state market.

For many years pasture and ranch work was the most important activity for the people of the state. Colorado farmers are still feeding their livestock. But already - using modern agricultural technologies. Operators of “feed distribution stations” purchase calves, fattening them at the ranch to the required condition.

Of course, such a scientifically developed “food conveyor”, enriched with mineral salts and vitamins necessary for growth, increases the weight of the animal much faster than natural pastures. And heavier animals are valued much higher on the market. The Greeley region is a major animal feeding area.

The state's dairy production is Colorado's most important agricultural sector. In addition, Colorado is a leader in wool and beef sheep farming. The state also raises pigs and poultry.

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