State of Colorado
Flag of Colorado Seal Nickname(s): The Centennial State Motto(s): Nil sine numine "Nothing without Providence"'
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	Coloradan
Capital	Denver
Largest city	Denver
Largest metro area	Denver-Aurora Metro Area
Area	Ranked 8th in the US
- Total	104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)
- Width	280 miles (451 km)
- Length	380 miles (612 km)
- % water	0.36%
- Latitude	37°N to 41°N
- Longitude	102°03'W to 109°03'W
Population	Ranked 22nd in the US
- Total	4,301,261
- Density	41.5/sq mi  16.01/km² (37th in the US)
- Median income	$51,022 (10th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Elbert[1][2] 14,440 ft  (4401 m)
- Mean	6,800 ft  (2073 m)
- Lowest point	Arikaree River[1] 3,315 ft  (1010 m)
Admission to Union	1876-08-01 (38th)
Governor	Bill Ritter (D)
Lieutenant Governor	Barbara O'Brien (D)
U.S. Senators	2 - Wayne Allard (R) 3 - Ken Salazar (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	MST=UTC-07, MDT=UTC-06
Abbreviations	CO Colo. US-CO
Website	www.colorado.gov

The State of Colorado (pronounced /ˌkɒləˈrɑːdoʊ/) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the state population was 4,861,515 in 2007, a 13.03% increase since the U.S. Census 2000.^[3] Denver is the capital as well as the most populous city of Colorado. Citizens of Colorado are known as Coloradans. Image File history File links Flag_of_Colorado. ... Image File history File links The seal of the State of Colorado. ... Flag of Colorado The flag of Colorado consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width; the top and bottom stripes are blue, and the middle stripe white. ... The circular Seal of the State of Colorado is an adaptation of the Territorial Seal which was adopted by the First Territorial Assembly on November 6, 1861. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames -- both official and traditional (official state nicknames are in bold). ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Nil sine numine (Latin Nothing without God) is a state motto of Colorado. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_CO.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Colorado ... The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in the State of Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State State of Colorado City and County Denver[1] Founded 1858-11-22, as Denver City, K.T.[2] Incorporated 1861-11-07, as Denver City, C.T.[3] Consolidated... Nickname: Location of Denver in the State of Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State State of Colorado City and County Denver[1] Founded 1858-11-22, as Denver City, K.T.[2] Incorporated 1861-11-07, as Denver City, C.T.[3] Consolidated... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... The metropolitan area centered on the city of Denver, Colorado is known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Denver metropolitan area (population 2,179,240 in 2000). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... “km” redirects here. ... Map of states populations (2007) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2007, according to the 2007 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... For information on the income of individuals, see Personal income in the United States. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... Mount Elbert in Colorado is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains. ... The Arikaree River is a tributary of the North Fork of the Republican River that flows mostly in eastern Colorado in the United States. ... The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... Year 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) // January 31 - United States orders all Indigenous peoples in the United States to move onto reservations February 2 - The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs of Major League Baseball is formed. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Bill Ritter may refer to: Bill Ritter (news anchor), a New York City news anchor Bill Ritter (politician), Governer-Elect of Colorado Category: ... This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. ... Barbara OBrien is the current Democrtaic candidate for Lt. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... Alan Wayne Allard (born December 2, 1943) is the senior United States Senator from Colorado and a member of the Republican Party. ... Kenneth Lee Salazar (born March 2, 1955) is an American politician, rancher, and environmentalist from the U.S. state of Colorado. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... It has been suggested that List of United States Senators from Colorado be merged into this article or section. ... Map of U.S. time zones with new CST and EST areas displayed This is a list of United States of America States by time zone. ... The Mountain Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... Mountain Daylight Time or MDT is the Mountain Standard Time Zone (or MST) during Daylight Savings Time. ... The following is a list of abbreviations used by the United States Postal Service. ... U.S. states This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territorries, which were in wide use prior to the U.S. postal abbreviations. ... ISO 3166-2 codes for the United States of America cover 50 states, 1 district, 6 outlying areas (including 9 minor outlying islands under separate ISO 3166-1 country code UM). ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... The term Colorado can mean: The state of Colorado. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... The Southwest could be defined as the states west, or for the most part west, of the mississippi river, with the qualification of a certain northern limit, such as the 37, or 38, or 39, or 40 degree north line. ... This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in the State of Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State State of Colorado City and County Denver[1] Founded 1858-11-22, as Denver City, K.T.[2] Incorporated 1861-11-07, as Denver City, C.T.[3] Consolidated... Not to be confused with capitol. ... ^ Active Colorado Municipalities as of September 18, 2006 (HTML). ... This is a list of U.S. state residents names: ^ The first name listed is the name recommended by the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Colorado

The State of Colorado is defined as the geoellipsoidal rectangle that stretches from 37°N to 41°N latitude and from 102°03'W to 109°03'W longitude (25°W to 32°W from the Washington Meridian).^[4] Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are the only three U.S. states that have only lines of latitude and longitude for boundaries and that have no natural borders. A digital elevation model relief map of Colorado. ... The 37th parallel north is a line of latitude that crosses over the continents of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. ... The 41st parallel of north latitude forms the northern border of the U.S. states of Colorado and part of Utah, and the southern border of Wyoming and the panhandle of Nebraska. ... The Territory of Kansas, Territory of Nebraska, Territory of Utah, and Territory of New Mexico prior to the creation of the State of Kansas and the Territory of Colorado in 1861. ... The 32nd meridian of longitude west from Washington is a line of longitude approximately 109. ... The Territory of Kansas, Territory of Nebraska, Territory of Utah, and Territory of New Mexico prior to the creation of the State of Kansas and the Territory of Colorado in 1861. ... The 32nd meridian of longitude west from Washington is a line of longitude approximately 109. ... The Washington meridian was the prime meridian of the United States which passed through Washington, D.C.. Four have been specified: the first through the Capitol, the second through the White House, the third through the old Naval Observatory, and the fourth through the new Naval Observatory. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the geographical term. ... Longitude is the east-west geographic coordinate measurement most commonly utilized in cartography and global navigation. ...

Map of Colorado - PDF

The summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation in Lake County is the state's highest point and the highest point in the entire Rocky Mountains.^[1][2] Colorado has more than 500 mountain peaks that exceed 4,000 meters (13,123 ft) elevation. Colorado is the only U.S. state that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) elevation. The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County, Colorado, and into Cheyenne County, Kansas, is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3,315 feet (1,010 m) elevation. This crossing point holds the distinction of being the highest low point of any U.S. state.^[5][1] File links The following pages link to this file: Colorado Categories: National Atlas images | Colorado maps ... File links The following pages link to this file: Colorado Categories: National Atlas images | Colorado maps ... Mount Elbert in Colorado is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains. ... Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... The Arikaree River is a tributary of the North Fork of the Republican River that flows mostly in eastern Colorado in the United States. ... Yuma County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... Cheyenne County (standard abbreviation: CN) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of...

Nearly half of the state is flat in stark contrast to Colorado's rugged Rocky Mountains. East of the Southern Rocky Mountains are the Colorado Eastern Plains of the High Plains, the section of the Great Plains within Colorado at elevations ranging from 3315 to 6562 feet (1010 to 2000 m). The states of Kansas and Nebraska border Colorado to the east. The plains are sparsely settled with most population along the South Platte and the Arkansas rivers. Precipitation is meager, averaging from 12 to 18 inches (300 to 450 mm) annually. There is some irrigated farming, but much of the land is used for dryland farming or ranching. Winter wheat is a typical crop and most small towns in the region boast both a water tower and a grain elevator. For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... The Eastern Plains of Colorado refers to region of the U.S state of Colorado on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, and east of the population centers of the Front Range. ... The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains in the central United States, located in eastern Colorado, western Kansas, western Nebraska, central and eastern Montana, eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, northwestern Texas, and southeastern Wyoming. ... For other uses, see Great Plains (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Nebraska (disambiguation). ... The South Platte River in Denver, Colorado The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska. ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... Dryland farming is an agricultural technique for cultivating land which receives little rainfall. ... Ranching is the raising of cattle or sheep on rangeland, although one might also speak of ranching with regard to less common livestock such as elk, bison or emu. ... Winter wheat is a cereal. ... The mushroom-shaped concrete water tower of Roihuvuori in Helsinki, Finland was built in the 1970s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The bulk of Colorado's population lives along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in the Front Range Urban Corridor. This region is partially protected from prevailing storms by the high mountains to the west. The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. ...

The Continental Divide dips down to 11,990 feet (3,655 m) at Loveland Pass.

To the west lies the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains with notable peaks such as Longs Peak, Mount Evans, Pikes Peak, and the Spanish Peaks near Walsenburg in the south. This area drains to the east, is forested, and partially urbanized. During the drought of 2002 devastating forest fires swept this area. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x875, 279 KB) A picture of the continental divide sign found at Loveland Pass, CO. Photo taken on March 27, 2005 by Christopher Morrison with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x875, 279 KB) A picture of the continental divide sign found at Loveland Pass, CO. Photo taken on March 27, 2005 by Christopher Morrison with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens. ... A continental divide is a line of elevated terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that water falling on one side of the line eventually travels to one ocean or body of water, and water on the other side travels to another, generally on the opposite side of... A spring day at Loveland Pass Note: This article title may be easily confused with Loveland, Colorado, also in Colorado. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... Longs Peak (or Longs Peak, see below) is one of the 54 fourteeners in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. ... Mount Evans is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. ... This article is about the mountain in Colorado. ... The Spanish Peaks are a pair of volcanic mountains in the southeastern part of the US State of Colorado. ... Walsenburg is a city in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. ... Fire in San Bernardino, California Mountains (image taken from the International Space Station) A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire in wildland often caused by lightning; other common causes are human carelessness and arson. ...

The Continental Divide stretches across the crest of the Rocky Mountains. To the west of the Continental Divide is the Western Slope. Water west of the Continental Divide drains west into the Sea of Cortez via the Colorado River. A continental divide is a line of elevated terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that water falling on one side of the line eventually travels to one ocean or body of water, and water on the other side travels to another, generally on the opposite side of... The Western Slope of Colorado refers the region of the US state of Colorado west of the Rocky Mountains. ... The Gulf of California (highlighted) The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez or Sea of Cortés; locally known in the Spanish language as Mar de Cortés or, much less frequently, Golfo de California) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula... Colorado River in the Grand Canyon from Desert View The Colorado River is a river in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 mi (2,333 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. ...

Within the interior of the Rocky Mountains are several large parks or high broad basins. In the north, on the east side of the Continental Divide is North Park. North Park is drained by the North Platte River, which flows north into Wyoming. Just south but on the west side of the Continental Divide is Middle Park, drained by the Colorado River. South Park is the headwaters of the South Platte River. To the south lies the San Luis Valley, the headwaters of the Rio Grande, which drains into New Mexico. Across the Sangre de Cristo Range to the east of the San Luis Valley lies the Wet Mountain Valley. These basins, particularly the San Luis Valley, lie along the Rio Grande Rift, a major geological formation, and its branches. North Park may refer to: North Park, a valley in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado. ... The North Platte River The North Platte River is a tributary of the Platte River, approximately 680 mi (1,094 km) long, in the U.S. states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... View of Middle Park near Granby, Colorado Middle Park (elev. ... View of South Park along U.S. Route 285 looking eastward toward the Front Range For other uses: see South Park (disambiguation). ... The headwaters of a river are small streams that create it. ... The Great Sand Dunes sit directly west of the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is featured in the background. ... “Río Bravo” redirects here. ... Official language(s) None Spoken language(s) English 68. ... The Sangre de Cristo Range is a narrow mountain range of the Rocky Mountains running north and south along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift in southern Colorado in the United States. ... The Wet Mountain Valley is located in Custer County in south-central Colorado. ... The Rio Grande Rift is a rift valley extending north from Mexico, near El Paso, Texas through New Mexico into central Colorado. ... Interstate road cut through limestone and shale strata in eastern Tennessee In geology and related fields, a stratum (plural: strata) is a layer of rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguishes it from contiguous layers. ...

The Rocky Mountains within Colorado contain 51 peaks that are 14,000 feet (4,267 m) or higher elevation, known as fourteeners. The mountains are timbered with conifers and aspen to the tree line, at an elevation of about 12,140 feet (3,700 m) in southern Colorado to about 10,500 feet (3,200 m) in northern Colorado; above this only alpine vegetation grows. The Colorado Rockies are snow-covered only in the winter; most snow melts by mid-August with the exception of a few small glaciers. The Colorado Mineral Belt, stretching from the San Juan Mountains in the southwest to Boulder and Central City on the front range, contains most of the historic gold- and silver-mining districts of Colorado. In mountaineering in the United States, a fourteener (or 14er) is a mountain peak that exceeds 14,000 feet (4,267. ... Orders & Families Cordaitales † Pinales   Pinaceae - Pine family   Araucariaceae - Araucaria family   Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family   Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family   Cupressaceae - Cypress family   Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family   Taxaceae - Yew family Vojnovskyales † Voltziales † The conifers, division Pinophyta, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. ... For other uses, see Aspen (disambiguation). ... In this view of an alpine tree-line, the distant line looks particularly sharp. ... The Colorado Mineral Belt (CMB) is a broad area stretching north-east from the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado to the Front Range near Boulder, Colorado which is highly mineralized. ... The San Juan Mountains are a rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. ... Boulder is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County, Colorado, in the United States. ... Central City is the county seat of Gilpin County, Colorado. ...

The Western Slope is generally drained by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Notable to the south are the San Juan Mountains, an extremely rugged mountain range, and to the west of the San Juans, the Colorado Plateau, a high desert bordering Southern Utah. Grand Junction is the largest city on the Western Slope. Grand Junction is served by Interstate Highway I-70. To the southeast of Grand Junction is Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat-topped mountain. Further east are the ski resorts of Aspen, Vail, Crested Butte, and Steamboat Springs. The northwestern corner of Colorado bordering Northern Utah and Western Wyoming is mostly sparsely populated rangeland. The San Juan Mountains are a rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. ... The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateaus Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Mt. ... The Western Slope of Colorado refers the region of the US state of Colorado west of the Rocky Mountains. ... I-70 rest stop in Glenwood Canyon In the U.S. state of Colorado, Interstate 70 provides an east-west freeway across the center of the state, passing through Denver. ... The Grand Mesa is a large geologic formation in the western Colorado in the United States. ... St. ... The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city and the county seat of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. ... There are also Vail, Arizona and Vail, Iowa. ... Mount Crested Butte Resort Often called the last great Colorado ski town, Crested Butte is a small resort town located in Gunnison County in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... Steamboat Springs is a mix of older architecture and newer resort developments, especially near the ski resort on the eastern edge of town. ...

From west to east, the state consists of desert-like basins, turning into plateaus, then alpine mountains, and then the grasslands of the Great Plains. The famous Pikes Peak is just west of Colorado Springs. Its lone peak is visible from near the Kansas border on clear days.^{[citation needed]} This article is about the mountain in Colorado. ... Colorado Springs is most populous Home Rule Municipality in the State of Colorado. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Colorado is also one of only four states in the United States to share a common border (Four Corners), along with Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. At this intersection, it is possible to stand in four states at once. The Four Corners region is in the red area on this map The Four Corners Monument, placed by the Interior Department at the exact point. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Official language(s) None Spoken language(s) English 68. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

See also: Colorado cities and towns, Colorado counties, Colorado municipalities, Colorado rivers, and Four Corners Monument

The following list includes the 270 active municipalities, the 83 active U.S. Census Designated Places, and all named U.S. Post Offices in the State of Colorado. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The 270 active municipalities of the State of Colorado operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority:[1][2] Consolidated City and County – Only Denver and Broomfield have consolidated city and county governments: The City and County of Denver operates under Article XX, Section 4 of the Constitution... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The marker at the exact Four Corners point. ...

Climate

Spring melt at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The climate of Colorado is quite complex compared to most of the United States. The typical south-north/cooler-warmer variation in other states is not generally applicable in Colorado. Mountains and surrounding valleys greatly affect local climate. As a general rule, with an increase in elevation come a decrease in temperature and an increase in precipitation. A main climatic division in Colorado occurs between the Rocky Mountains on the west and the plains on the east; the foothills form a transitional zone between the two. Bear Lake is scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. ... Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado. ...

Eastern Plains

Center pivot irrigation of wheat growing in Yuma County.

The climate of the Eastern Plains is a semi-arid continental climate (Koppen climate classification BSk) of low humidity and moderately low precipitation, usually from 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 mm) annually. The area is known for its abundant sunshine and cool clear nights, which give this area the highest average diurnal temperature range in the United States. In summer, this area can have many days above 95 °F (35 °C) and sometimes 100 °F (38 °C) or more. Temperatures in excess of 115 °F (46 °C) in the northeast corner of the state are not uncommon, although 105 °F (41 °C) is the maximum in the front range cities above 5000 ft (1500 m). In those areas, −25 °F (−31.7 °C) is the all-time record low. About 75% of the precipitation falls within the growing season, from April to September, but this area is very prone to droughts. Most of the precipitation comes in the form of thunderstorms which are often severe, and the form of major snowstorms that happen most often in the early Spring and in late Autumn, and sometimes Winter, from low pressures that bring the right conditions. Otherwise, Winters tend to be drier and cold, even though it's known for having a number of mild days in many Winters. In much of this region, March and April are the snowiest months. April and May are normally the rainiest months, while April is the wettest month that has the most combination of rain and snow. The Front Range cities closer to the mountains tend to be warmer in the winter due to chinook winds which warm the area, sometimes bringing temperatures up to 60 °F (16 °C) or higher in the winter.^[6] The average July temperature is 57 degrees in the morning and 87 degrees in the afternoon. The average January temperature is 15 degrees in the morning and 43 degrees in the afternoon, although the daily high may be 60 one day and 0 the next. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2100x1500, 372 KB) Center pivot irrigation on wheat growing in Yuma County, Colorado. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2100x1500, 372 KB) Center pivot irrigation on wheat growing in Yuma County, Colorado. ... Yuma County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... Semi-arid generally describes regions that receive low annual rainfall (25 to 50 cm /10 to 20 in) and generally have scrub or grass vegetation. ... Regions containing a continental climate exist in portions of Northern Hemisphere continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. ... The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Chinook winds, often just called chinooks, are a wind pattern observed in midwestern North America, named for the Chinook Indians. ...

West of the plains and foothills

West of the plains and foothills, the weather of Colorado is much less uniform. Even places a few miles (kilometers) apart can experience entirely different weather, depending on the topography of the area. Most valleys also have a semi-arid climate, which becomes an alpine climate at higher elevations. Generally, the wettest season is in the winter in Western Colorado while June is the driest month, which is the opposite of precipitation patterns in the east. The mountains have cool summers with many days of high temperatures around 60 °F (16 °C) and 70 °F (21 °C), although frequent thunderstorms can cause a sudden drop in temperatures. Summer nights are cool, and cold at the highest altitudes which can sometimes bring snow even in the middle of the summer. The winters bring abundant, powdery snowfall to the mountains which the skiers love, although even in the winter, there can be many days with abundant sunshine in between major storms. The Western Slope has high summer temperatures similar to those found on the plains while the winters tend to be slightly cooler due to the lack of any warming winds which are common in the plains and Front Range. Other areas in the west have their own unique climate. The San Luis Valley is generally dry with little rain or snow, although the snow that falls tends to stay on the ground all winter. For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see climate) for a region above the tree-line. ... The Great Sand Dunes sit directly west of the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is featured in the background. ...

Extreme weather

A thunderstorm in Denver.

Extreme weather is a common occurrence in Colorado. Thunderstorms are common east of the Continental divide in the spring and summer, and Colorado is one of the leading states in deaths due to lightning. Hail is a common sight in the mountains east of the divide and in the northwest part of the state. While not as common as some of the states to the east, much of the Eastern Plains are prone to tornadoes, and there have been some damaging tornadoes there. An example is the 1990 Limon F3 tornado which devastated the city. Floods are also a factor in the plains, not just from the thunderstorms, but also due to heavy snow in the mountains followed by a warm, dry period which swells rivers with melted snow. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1303x1519, 872 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Denver, Colorado Thunderstorm User talk:Merovingian User talk:Dina User talk:Kusma User talk:RyanGerbil10 User talk:Ombudsman... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1303x1519, 872 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Denver, Colorado Thunderstorm User talk:Merovingian User talk:Dina User talk:Kusma User talk:RyanGerbil10 User talk:Ombudsman... Not to be confused with lighting. ... Limon is a town in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States. ... F-scale redirects here. ...

Records

The highest temperature ever recorded in Colorado was 118 °F (48 °C) on July 11, 1888, at Bennett, while the lowest was -61 °F (-52 °C) on February 1, 1985, at Maybell.^[7][8] is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Bennett is a town located in Adams County, Colorado. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Maybell is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. ...

History

Colorado state insignia
Motto	Nil sine numine (Latin, "Nothing without Providence")
Slogan	Hip To Be Square (2008- )
Bird	Lark Bunting
Animal	Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Fish	Greenback Cutthroat Trout
Insect	Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly
Flower	Rocky Mountain Columbine
Tree	Colorado Blue Spruce
Song	"Where the Columbines Grow" and "Rocky Mountain High"[9]
Quarter	Released in 2006
Grass	Blue Grama
Reptile	Western Painted Turtle
Fossil	Stegosaurus
Gemstone	Aquamarine
Mineral	Rhodochrosite
Rock	Yule Marble
Tartan	Colorado State Tartan

Main article: History of Colorado

The ruins of the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde as photographed by Gustaf Nordenskiöld in 1891.

Bent's Old Fort along the Arkansas River operated from 1833 to 1849.

A lithograph of the Denver City mining camp in 1859.

Native Colorado Rocky Mountain Columbine

The Georgetown Loop of the Colorado Central Railroad as photographed by William H. Jackson in 1899.

Native Colorado rhodochrosite

The region that is today the State of Colorado has been inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13 millennia. The Lindenmeier Site in Larimer County contains artifacts dating from approximately 11200 BCE to 3000 BCE. The Ancient Pueblo Peoples lived in the valleys and mesas of the Colorado Plateau. The Ute Nation inhabited the mountain valleys of the Southern Rocky Mountains and the Western Rocky Mountains. The Arapaho Nation and the Cheyenne Nation moved west to hunt across the High Plains. These are lists of U.S. state insignia as designated by tradition or the respective state legislatures List of U.S. state amphibians List of U.S. state beverages List of U.S. state birds List of U.S. state butterflies List of U.S. state colors List of U... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Calamospiza melanocorys Stejneger,, 1885 The Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys, is a medium-sized sparrow. ... A state mammal is the official or representative animal of a U.S. state. ... Binomial name Ovis canadensis Shaw, 1804 Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in the continental United States with several subspecies. ... This is a list of official U.S. state fish: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Trinomial name Oncorhynchus clarki stomias (Cope, 1871) The greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias) is the easternmost subspecies of cutthroat trout. ... It has been suggested that List of U.S. state butterflies be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name Hypaurotis crysalus W.H. Edwards, 1873 The Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly (Hypaurotis crysalus) is a montane butterfly native to oak scrubland in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. ... This is a list of U.S. state flowers: List of U.S. state trees Lists of U.S. state insignia ^ State Flower of Alabama. ... The Rocky Mountain Columbine (aquilegia caerules) is a species of columbine. ... This List of U.S. state trees includes official trees of the following states and U.S. possessions: See also Lists of U.S. state insignia National Grove of State Trees External link USDA list of state trees and flowers Categories: | | ... Binomial name Picea pungens Engelm. ... Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state legislature as a symbol of the state. ... Where the Columbines Grow is the state song of Colorado. ... Rocky Mountain High is a folk-rock song written by John Denver and Mike Taylor about Colorado,and should be considered as Colorados Offici