The largest building in Colorado. Colorado (state). Colorado state on USA map

The state of Colorado is one of the most large regions USA. Many tourists come here every year to visit the well-known Rocky Mountains and enjoy all the benefits of being among the spectacular landscapes.

general information

The area of ​​this region is 269.7 thousand square meters. km, and its population is slightly more than 5 thousand people. The capital of Colorado, Denver, is also the most big city in this territory. The area is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, which include the Rocky Mountain belt.

Most tourists come here precisely to admire the grandeur of the snow-capped rocks, the beauty of the coniferous forests and enjoy the mild climate. The region is the center of summer and winter

The most big cities Colorado - Lakewood, Aurora, Pueblo and others.

Tourism and industry

Thousands of ski fans come to Colorado every year in the winter to spend time on the snowy slopes sparkling under the bright rays of the sun. By the way, not only US residents gather here, but also tourists from all over the world. The most famous mountain tourist areas Colorado: Aspen, East Park, Colorado Springs.

It's not just tourism that generates serious income for the government's coffers: Colorado is also an important industrial center. Most residents of this county live and work in its eastern part, which occupies two-fifths of the entire territory of Colorado. The state is also known for tunnels cut into the mountains to provide water to the dry prairies of farming areas, which are an important source of income in the area. Because Colorado's lands are located between the major cities of California and the Midwest, it is an important transportation artery for cargo distribution in the Rocky Mountain region.

Agricultural industry

As for the agricultural industries and agriculture of America, the state of Colorado occupies a leading position here. The US is highly dependent on products produced in the area. The most notable and profitable are sheep breeding and meat and dairy farming. This is due to the large amount of land ideal for raising livestock.

A variety of government improvements are helping farmers begin successfully growing crops such as potatoes, grains and sugar beets. Today, the territories previously occupied by desert prairies are endless

Mining industry

Colorado's mining industry is an important component of the US economy. The state gained prominence (due to its rich reserves of valuable metals) as early as the 1850s. During this period, the first adventurers appeared here, becoming victims of the silver and gold rushes. By the way, this area still abounds in valuable metals, although the most important point of Colorado's mining industry is now oil and, therefore, the production of gasoline.

In addition, the state occupies a leading position in molybdenum mining and steel production. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is even home to the US Mint.

Flag and coat of arms

The main symbol of Colorado - the flag - was officially adopted in 1911. The red letter "C" depicted on the canvas stands for "Colorado", which means "red color" in Spanish. The golden ball inside the letter indicates the existence of gold mines. The blue and white stripes of the banner symbolize natural beauty of this land, blue skies and white snows in the Rocky Mountains.

The state emblem was adopted in 1877. The triangle depicted on it represents the all-seeing eye of God. There are also symbols of the state's mining industry, which brings major revenue to the treasury. These are mountains, earth and a pickaxe.

The state is located mostly in elevated areas. Its lands are located at an altitude of 2100 above sea level, making Colorado the highest altitude state in the United States.

The first charitable organization was created in Denver. It was a relief fund established by a priest, two ministers and a rabbi in 1882. It was called the Public Charity Service.

The largest silver bar in the world was found in this state. This happened in the city of Aspen in 1894. The weight of the unprocessed nugget reached 835 kilograms, which allows it to still remain the largest ingot in the world.

Once upon a time, the political arena of the state saw three different governors in one day. In 1905, he became Alva Adams, who after two months of work was removed from office: he was caught cheating during the elections. The incident occurred on March 17, the same day the state legislature decided to entrust this post to James Peabody, but he refused. A little later, but on the same day, Jesse MacDonald, a former lieutenant governor, took over as governor.

Rocky Mountains

This mountain system is located in the midline of Colorado. Two-fifths of the state is covered by an impressive array. The Rocky Mountains are called the Roof of North America. There are 55 of the highest peaks here, some of them reaching 4270 km above sea level. Mountain system stretches from Alaska all the way to New Mexico, but Colorado contains the highest areas. In turn, the rocky mountains are divided into five chains.

Attractions

Natural scenic landscapes are the main attractions that can be experienced when visiting the state of Colorado. On the map of national parks, it is first recommended to familiarize yourself with such places as Old Bent Fort, Black Canyon and the Dinosaur Sanctuary.

To summarize, it should be noted that Colorado is perfect place For family vacation in nature or to spend your holiday conquering snow-capped peaks. For the USA, this state is not only important tourist center, but also an excellent source of minerals and agricultural products.

Originates at the top of the rocky mountains great river Colorado. It is not the longest in the country and cannot boast of its length. But still, it is generally accepted in the world that she is considered Great. The fact is that over hundreds of thousands of years, its leisurely waters formed an amazing natural landscape, digging deeper and deeper into the ground and rocks. The result of her work was the Grand Canyon, whose depth exceeds 2000 meters.

Surprisingly, the Grand Canyon was put on maps a little over a hundred years ago, when geologist John Powell and a small team rafted along the entire river bed. Imagine his surprise when he first saw the Grand Canyon and realized that the reason for its formation was the Colorado River, which patiently continues to cut its way through the rocks. In ancient times, these places always belonged to the Indians and subsequently these lands, especially the Monument area, became the main stage for filming Westerns. Navajo Indians still live in these areas on reservations.

Today, the Colorado River is the only source of water for many hundreds of kilometers around, which is gradually leading to the shallowing of the river. More than twenty thousand tourists strive to raft from the upper reaches of the river to the Gulf of California. But the queues of applicants are so huge that you have to reserve your application two years in advance. An alternative option to admire the Colorado River and Grand Canyon is to travel along its bed on foot or in jeeps.

Coordinates: 31.81543800,-114.80403900

Arsenic Pool at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon itself amazing creation nature. For millions of years, the Colorado River made its way to the Gulf through mountains, granite cliffs and desert plains. The result of her work was Grand Canyon, which is fraught with many amazing natural monuments. Rafting down the river through its gorge you can encounter the most unusual phenomena. For example, Pumpkin Creek.

342 kilometers deep into the canyon you can see an unusual natural reservoir on the left bank of the river. Its rounded, pot-bellied walls truly resemble an orange pumpkin. If you swim closer and stand in the boat, you can see that the inside is hollow and filled with strange greenish-yellow water. We do not recommend even touching it, let alone drinking it. The fact is that pumpkin is the formation of lime deposits on carbon dioxide sources. For a thousand years, the water built up walls around itself, which over time turned into a pumpkin filled with spring water.

But the most unusual thing is not in the form, but in the content. The warm water in the pool is simply overflowing with minerals - zinc, copper and lead. And arsenic. The usual level of this poison in water is about 50 mg per liter, but here there are 1100 mg of arsenic per liter. Even a tiny sip from this pumpkin can cause death. When taking photos near the pool or after swimming in it, rinse your body thoroughly with running water.

Coordinates: 35.91553200,-113.33420800

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Rocky Mountains

There is hardly anywhere in the United States that is more suitable for mountaineering and rock climbing than the Rocky Mountain National Park. It straddles both sides of the Dividing Range and comprises nearly a third of the entire state. A distinctive feature of these rocks is the unusual slope of the surface and many different cracks and ledges, which make it possible to easily overcome long distances. The only difficulty is choosing a comfortable season for climbing.

At the beginning of summer, the rocks are covered with snow and ice, which is why the usual routes take on a completely unimaginable ascent trajectory, which attracts special category climbers.

Coordinates: 42.38333300,-115.93333300

National Park Mesa Verde is located in the southwestern part of Colorado, in the town of Montezuma Country. total area The park has about two hundred square kilometers, and the elevation difference ranges between 1900 and 2600 meters above sea level. The park's main attraction is the numerous ruins of stone dwellings created in weathered sandstone canyons by an ancient people better known as the Anasazi Indian tribe. These buildings were erected in the 13th century and are the first example of American architecture in the history of " apartment building"The number of residential visits in such houses amounted to up to one hundred separate rooms.

The name of the park was given in honor of the plateau of the same name, rising 600 meters above the surrounding area, the slopes of which are covered with coniferous forest. Translated from Spanish"Mesa Verde" means "Green Table". The popularity of these places began to increase in the second half of the 19th century, when Spanish explorers began to understand the value of ancient rocks for the life of the Indians. The first explorer of Mesa Verde was Richard Wetherill, an amateur historian who studied the history of the Pueblo; in addition, the archaeological work of the Swedish geologist Gustav Nordenskiöld was of great importance.

In 1906, in order to protect antiquities from possible vandalism, Mesa Verde received official status as a national park, and 60 years later entered the National Register historical places USA. Since September 1978, the park has been included in the list of World Cultural and natural heritage UNESCO.

Coordinates: 37.18769000,-108.49226800

United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

The US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel is located in Colorado, on the territory of a military camp and training base of a branch of the pilot academy. air force USA. The chapel was built in 1962 in the modernist style, designed by the architect Walter Netsch.

The chapel’s majestic appearance is given by seventeen rows of steel frames ending in peaks at a height of 50 meters. The building consists of three levels in which services are held for representatives of the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths.

The chapel is a popular tourist attraction, with approximately 500,000 people coming to see it every year. In 1996, the chapel was awarded an award from the American Institute of Architects, and in 2004, as part of the cadet corps, it was recognized as a National historical monument USA.

Coordinates: 38.96400800,-104.81479000

Club Beta

Denver's Beta Club is distinguished by its environmental stance. Its lounge rooms are green and made with sustainable products that have been recycled and used to build the club. Its mandatory rule is to recycle used materials at recycling centers, which are located at the main traffic points in the club. Such materials are plastic, glass, aluminum, paper and others. The nightclub's motto is “We are green,” which fully confirms their position.

The club is equipped with a powerful audio and video system, lighting and special effects. All these amenities affect the quality of the music and therefore the visitors. Beta's goal is to develop club culture and is constantly moving in this direction. The establishment never stands still, it moves, looking for ways to expand and improve. His creative ideas delight regular visitors every time.

Coordinates: 39.75365300,-104.99535600

The most popular attractions in Colorado with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places in Colorado on our website.

Colorado is a state located in the west-central region of the United States. It shares a northern border with Wyoming and Nebraska, an eastern border with Kansas, a southern border with Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, and a western border with Utah. Area 269,837 km². Population 5,116,769 people. The capital is the city of Denver. Major cities: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Boulder, Westminster. In 1876 it became the 38th US state.

State attractions

More than 30% of the state's area is occupied by parkland. The Black Canyon Park is very popular among rock climbing and rafting enthusiasts. Almost all Northern part Colorado is a resort area with mountain hotels, sports complexes, and boarding houses. Just northwest of Denver is the college town of Boulder. About 50% of the population are students and scientists working at the University of Colorado, the Museum of Natural History, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, where the best supercomputers on the planet are located. It is also home to a Buddhist Institute, the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASA), the National Snow and Ice Research Center, and the Atmospheric and Space Physics Laboratory.

Summit Country is home to several famous ski resorts. Near the city of Aspen there are resort areas for snowboarding, places for cycling, hiking, and fishing. Other attractions include the Garden of the Gods with its red “towers”, the Pikes Peak-Coag Railway with its beautiful scenery, Mesa Verde National Park and its cave cities Anasazi culture, Dinosaur National Monument and the tallest suspension bridge in the world - Royal Gorge (321 m).

Geography and climate

The state boundaries are parallel to each other and form a “rectangle”. The Rocky Mountain ranges are located in the central part of the state. The highest point is Mount Elbert, whose height is 4399 meters. The most low point is located at an altitude of 1011 meters above sea level. Rivers flow from the western and eastern sides of these mountains. Most of the mountains are covered with coniferous forest. East of the Rocky Mountains are the Great Plains. The Colorado Plateau is located in the western part of the state. Major rivers: Colorado, Rio Grande and Arkansas. Climate on eastern plains different from the climate in the western foothills. In the eastern region, the climate is temperate continental, low humidity, with little precipitation (from 380 to 630 mm/year). In summer the average temperature is 35°C, in winter it can drop to -18°C. In the western part the climate is relatively uniform; in the higher elevations the climate is mountainous. The most heat in July 21°C. In winter high level humidity.

Economy

In 2007, GDP was $236 billion (11th place in terms of income). Among the most developed types of industry are food, chemical, mechanical engineering, and metallurgy. Mineral resources include coal, oil, natural gas, vanadium, uranium, zinc, and gold. The country's richest coal deposit is located in the northwest. The state of Colorado is a leader in beer production. The state capital is home to large banks, a mint, light industry enterprises, and federal organizations. In the field of agriculture, they grow wheat and corn, raise cattle, and are engaged in winemaking. The development of tourism makes a great contribution to the development of the economy.

Population and religion

The population density is 19 people per km². Residents of the state live mostly near the eastern slopes of the mountains, since these places are more protected from storm winds from Pacific Ocean. The first settlers were the Spaniards. In 2000, their number was 10.5%. Also lives here a large number of African Americans, Chinese, Koreans. By religious faith, 65% of the population are Christians (44% Protestants, 19% Catholics, 2% Mormons, 1% Orthodox), 2% are Jews, 1% are Muslim, 5% are other religions, 25% are atheists.

In the wild, wild West these days you won't find cowboys in dusty clothes, Indians with feathers in their hair, or elegant ladies traveling on stagecoaches. Although the cowboy flavor is forever lost, these lands annually attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from other regions of the United States and the world. Today's article will focus on the state of Colorado.

The state's population is over 5 million people, who mainly live in large cities and their outskirts. Administrative center region is considered to be Denver. No less interesting are cities such as Boulder, Westminster, Pueblo, Fort Collins, as well as famous resort Colorado Springs.

Colorado cities

Denver was founded in the mid-19th century at an altitude of a mile above sea level. It is the cultural, commercial and industrial center of the state. In the center of Denver is Capitol Hill, surrounded by the main city arteries - Sixth Avenue, Broadway, Colfax Avenue, Downing Street. The Capitol Hill building is built of white granite, which is crowned with a 55-meter golden dome.

A must visit in Denver Art Museum, which in terms of exposure is second only to the iconic Lincoln Center in the Big Apple. Nearby you will find the so-called. LoDo. This is what Americans call the area between Union Station and Larimer Square. Here, an attentive traveler under the facades of cafes and restaurants will see historical buildings that harmoniously fit into the panorama of the city.

100 km south is the world wide famous resort Colorado Springs. The Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains - in Colorado Springs, similar to Sochi, you can find everything: desert areas, ski slopes, and dry mountain air. Over 6 million tourists visiting resort area, bring the local budget about $1 billion. During the Cold War era, Colorado Springs was a strategic location, and local residents seriously feared becoming victims of Soviet bombing.

The metropolitan area of ​​Westminster is closely adjacent to Denver, forming a huge metropolis. According to Money magazine, the county is one of the 30 best cities to live in the United States. It began to develop rapidly during the gold rush, when the precious metal was discovered in Colorado. Among the attractions we highlight Westminster Castle. It is also called the Column of Fire or the Big Red Castle.

The world-famous University of Colorado is located in Boulder, where you can visit the Museum of Natural History. The unofficial title of the town is the happiest.

Prices in Colorado

The United States is famous for its liberal policy towards people suffering from headaches. So, marijuana is officially sold in Colorado. Price: 1 dollar 5 grams. Fortunately, tourists will not be able to encroach on these shoots of democracy.

Inglewood has a great place to eat and give what you can for your meal. Thanks to this, the place is famous among students, young people, as well as the local poor. If visitors do not have the means to pay, they can do the work in the kitchen or in the common room. This is an example of democracy.

Other establishments where you can eat in Denver include the following: Cafe Brazil, El Tacode Mexico, ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro, Tom's Home Cookin, Vietnam Grill, BikerJim's, Squeaky Bean, Jax Fish House - Oyster Bar. These are restaurants that are favorite among tourists and have the best price-quality ratio. It should be noted that the listed catering establishments are included in the guidebooks as recommended. You can eat there from 20-30 dollars.

You can stay in a hotel from 25-35 to 3000 dollars - it all depends on your preferences and travel budget. So, in suburban motels you can bargain for $15. IN resort places, such as Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, a guest house will cost from $100 per person.

Renting a car will cost from $200 on interactive platforms via the Internet. It will be much cheaper locally - from $100, if you have sufficient experience driving.

The cost of a ticket to Colorado from Moscow can be 27 thousand rubles. You can take advantage of discounts and book a ticket to New York in advance for 15 thousand rubles and from there a domestic flight for $100.

Excursions in Colorado

The most popular place in Colorado among modern pilgrims is the Rocky Mountains National Park. Indeed, the mountainous state offers stunning landscapes with picturesque valleys and rivers. On a huge plot of land There are a great variety of birds and mammals that are so accustomed to the constant presence of people with cameras that they dare to pose against the backdrop of their natural habitat. The excursions are conducted by experienced guides, real experts on the animal and plant world.

Colorado has its own canyon, nicknamed the Black Canyon. The natural creation of Gunnison Park is a 20-kilometer hiking trail along the gorge, on both sides of which hang sheer cliffs. Also worthy of attention State Park Great Dunes. In this reserve you can see American dunes of amazing beauty and grandeur. In some cases they reach a height of 200 meters or more.

Mesa Verde Park will allow you to get acquainted with the rock dwellings of the ancestors of the Indians who inhabited these places before colonization by the British and Spaniards. The eco-tourism program ends with the Wine Valley. Here tourists get acquainted with the traditions of growing grapes, as well as the winemaking process. You can try the product at all stages. Enterprising Coloradans have set up a sommelier school in the Valley and are issuing certificates to all travelers who complete the course.

To the west of Denver is the town of Morrison, famous for its paleontological and archaeological sites. As the guides say, about seven dozen species of ancient reptiles and other dinosaurs were discovered in this territory.

To be fair, it must be said that the vast majority of tourists visit the Denver area not for the numerous museums and parks. Over 40 million people come to local ski resorts, including in summer. Athletes and amateurs organize rock climbing and trekking competitions. American boys and girls indulge in idle pastime, doing aquatic species sports north of Denver. IN winter time Colorado hosts the traditional stages of the Alpine Skiing Grand Prix, fortunately the infrastructure allows it.

In general, almost the entire northern region of Colorado can be called a huge tourist complex, in which there are countless hotels, cottages, hostels, sports centers, boarding houses, sports boarding schools, national parks, and other entertainment facilities.

Note to tourists

To summarize: be sure to visit the highest suspension bridge in the world. Its name is Royal Gorge and it is located at an altitude of 321 meters. We also recommend taking a ride on an ancient railway Pikes Peak Cog. The passenger carriages offer a wonderful view of the surrounding area. If you want to appreciate the full scale of the tourist Mecca of the USA, arrange an aerial excursion on a paraglider or hang glider. Experienced instructors will do everything for you, and you will only have to admire the Garden of the Gods with red turrets, mountain rivers, lakes, rocky slopes and other sights of Colorado.

Relief and climate

The state of Colorado has perfectly even borders, which were drawn with a ruler on the map. Resembling a rectangle in shape, the region is cut by the ridges of the Rocky Mountains in the central part. The state's highest point is Elbert Peak at an altitude of almost 4.4 km. What is noteworthy is that the lowest point is located at an altitude of 1 km. From the east and west, the Rocky Mountains are washed by rivers, on the banks of which coniferous forests proliferate. The famous Great Plains can be found further east mountain range. And the Colorado Plateau is on the western side of the region.

The most large rivers Arkansas, Colorado and Rio Grande are considered. Dense flora grows on their banks. Partially favorable dry mountain climate condones this. In the eastern part the climate is continental, temperate, characterized by low humidity and minimal precipitation. In July, the temperature stays at 35 degrees Celsius, and in the cold season it often drops below 15 degrees below zero. As for the West, the climate here is mountainous and homogeneous. In summer, the thermometer rarely exceeds 21 degrees Celsius. Due to high humidity, winters are relatively warm.

The most optimal time to visit Colorado resorts is December-March and May-June, August-September. Although at other times the state is also surprisingly attractive.

The Colorado potato beetle, the menace of farmers, the destroyer of crops, in fact, did not appear in sunshine state. The insect's homeland is considered to be in the northeastern part of Mexico. In an unknown way, the beetle entered the United States, bypassing all migration cordons, and reached the Rocky Mountains. Having evolved, the Colorado potato beetle adapted to feed on potatoes, threatening the agriculture of all the States.

Then the insect painlessly underwent acclimatization, leaving its native land, migrating to the Old World. Despite the struggle of European orderlies, the beetle finally gained a foothold in Bordeaux during the First World War. From there he began a victorious march across the continent and reached the border with the Soviet Union. Since then, experts have been fighting the beetle every year. What is noteworthy is that he was never able to conquer the green meadows of the British Crown, which remains a big secret for zoologists.

State of Colorado different time belonged to the Spaniards, French, Mexicans, Americans. During civil war local residents sided with the North because they defended their gold mines.

Over 37 percent of the state's territory is occupied by nature reserves and National parks, and opening forested areas here is good form after being appointed to the post of governor, or a leadership position in the US Senate and Parliament.

Another remarkable fact: according to the census of the region, about 25% admitted that they are atheists, since they do not profess any existing religion. This was nonsense for Colorado in 1900, when Christian believers made up almost 95% of the population.

Largest silver nugget North America found in Colorado. Its weight is 835 kg.

Colorado- a state in the west central part of the USA, one of the so-called Mountain States. Population - 5,268,367 people (data for 2013). The capital and largest city is Denver. Other major cities are Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Arvada, Pueblo, Westminster, Boulder, Englewood.

The official nickname is the “Centennial State” (the state entered the union in 1876 when the country celebrated its centennial).

Colorado is one of three states (along with Wyoming and Utah), all of whose boundaries are latitudes and meridians and, like Wyoming, forms simply a “rectangle” (more precisely, a sector of the earth’s surface) between a pair of latitudes and a pair of longitudes. The area occupied by Colorado is 269.7 thousand sq. km.

Flag Coat of arms Map

The territory of the state is intersected in the middle part from North to South by the ridges of the Rocky Mountains (the highest point is Mount Elbert, 4399 m). They form the so-called Great Continental Divide. In the east of the state there are the Great Plains, in the west there is the Colorado Plateau. The climate is temperate, continental. average temperature January on plains and plateaus 0 - 4 C, July 20 - 22 C. Precipitation 300 - 400 mm per year. Major rivers: South Platte, Arkansas, Rio Grande and Colorado. The vegetation in the east is steppe, in the west it is semi-desert. The mountain slopes are mostly covered with coniferous forest.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the territory of the future state was explored by the Spaniards. Since 1706, the territory of Colorado was declared a colony of Spain. The province then passed to France.

USA received eastern part Colorado as a result of the Louisiana Purchase (1803). central part Colorado ceded to the United States in 1845, and the western part in 1848, as a result of the war with Mexico.

In the 1850s Gold was discovered near Denver, and crowds of settlers poured here.

According to the law of 1911, the official flag of the state is a rectangular panel. The red letter “C” stands for “Colorado”, which is translated from Spanish 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 features the state's mountains, land, and a pickaxe, which symbolize Colorado's mining industry, the backbone of the state's economy.

Colorado has mineral resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, vanadium, uranium, and zinc.

Being essentially an offshore zone, Colorado is not included in the “black list” of offshore jurisdictions of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation - no restrictions are imposed on transactions with Colorado companies. Colorado companies can do business around the world. If a company is managed by non-US residents and does not conduct business in the US, it may not pay any taxes or file reports.

Articles from Wikipedia were used in preparing the material.