State of Colorado. Colorado (state). State of Colorado, USA The largest building in Colorado

The state of Colorado is one of the largest regions of the United States. 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 largest city in this territory. The area is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, including the Rocky Mountain belts.

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 largest cities in Colorado are Lakewood, Aurora, Pueblo and others.

Tourism and industry

Thousands of fans skiing Every year they come to Colorado 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 in 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 big amount 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 fame (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 national parks First of all, it is 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.

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, fishing. Also among the attractions is the Garden of the Gods with its red “turrets”, Railway Pikes Peak-Coag with its beautiful landscapes, Mesa Verde National Park and its cave cities Anasazi culture, Dinosaur National Monument and the highest 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 lowest 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. The climate on the eastern plains is different from that in the western foothills. In the eastern region, the climate is temperate continental, low humidity, with little precipitation (from 380 to 630 mm/year). During the summer average temperature 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 there is a high level of 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. State residents live for the most part near the eastern slopes of the mountains, since these places are more protected from storm winds from the 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.

Denver is the largest city and capital of the state of Colorado. Denver is located in the central part of the USA between Rocky Mountains(Rocky Mountains) in the west and the Great Plains (High Plains) in the east. The city covers an area of more than 400 sq. km. and is located 1609 meters above sea level. Denver is often called the “Mile High City.” According to 2013 estimates, Denver's population is 649 thousand residents. Total There are more than 2.5 million residents living in the Denver metropolitan area.

Denver is a relatively young city. It was founded in 1858 by gold miners from Kansas on the site where they found gold. Prospectors, hoping to gain political advantage, named the mining camp "Denver" in honor of Kansas Governor James Denver. However, by that time the governor had already left his post (unbeknownst to the gold miners), and the decision on the name did not provide any practical preferences. The site of modern Denver was originally occupied by 3 independent cities, but in 1859, in exchange for a barrel of whiskey, the name Denver became common to all. In 1861, Denver received city status.

The geographical location seriously influenced the city's economy. Being largest city within a radius of 800 km, Denver has become an important logistics center. This is the most important transport node to supply the "mountain states" (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Wyoming), in addition, Denver is located midway between the major cities of the Midwest (Chicago, St. Louis) and the cities West Coast USA. Denver International Airport is the 4th busiest airport in the United States and 10th busiest in the world.

Denver's top attractions

Colorado State Capitol
Denver Art Museum
LoDo Historic District
Confluence Park
Denver Zoo (4th most popular in the US)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science, one of the largest museums in the USA
Denver Botanic Gardens
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Buffalo Bill Museum

70 miles from Denver is the most important attraction of Colorado - national park Rocky Mountain National Park.

According to 2013 estimates, Denver is 53% white, 31% Hispanic, 9% African American, 3% Asian. More than 70% of residents speak English as their first language, with 23.5% speaking Spanish at home. 14% of the population is of German origin, 10% is Irish, 9% is English, 4% is Italian. According to American statistics, 18.7% of the population lives below the poverty line.

The climate in Denver is characterized as semi-desert, continental, with distinctly different seasons. Winters can be both mild and cold. Despite the fact that the mountains to the west of the city receive a lot of snow and the air is colder, winter in Denver itself is milder. Snow can fall from October to April but usually does not last long. In the summer, Denver has relatively low air humidity, warm during the day and comfortable in the evenings. Overall, Denver has over 300 days of sunshine per year, and more annual hours of sunshine than Miami and San Diego!

Colorado State Map:

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Colorado (English Colorado or) is a state in the west central part of the United States, one of the so-called Mountain States. Colorado is bordered by the states of Wyoming and Nebraska (in the north), Kansas (in the east), Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona (in the south), and Utah (in the west).

Colorado is the eighth largest state in the United States, with an area of 269,837 km². The state's population is 4.6 million people (22nd in the United States). The capital and largest city is Denver. Other major cities are Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Arvada, Pueblo, Westminster, Boulder, Englewood, Centennial.

Colorado is the 38th state of the United States, it was formed on August 1, 1876, when the country celebrated its centennial. Because of this, Colorado's official nickname is the "Centennial State."

Year of formation: 1876 (38th in succession) State slogan: Nothing without Providence Formal name: State of Colorado Most Big city state: Denver State capital: Denver Population: more than 4.6 million people (22nd in the country). Area: 269.8 thousand sq. km. (8th place in the country.) More big cities in state: Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Thornton, Westminster, Arvada, Pueblo, Centenial, Boulder, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland, Grand Junction.

History of Colorado

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 land got its name from the Colorado River, which in turn was named because of the red-brown silt contained in the water. The province then passed to France. The United States received eastern Colorado as a result of the Louisiana Purchase (1803). The central part of Colorado was 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. During Civil War most of the gold miners were on the side of the Union. They successfully recaptured their gold mines from Texas invaders.

On March 3, 1875, the U.S. Congress passed a law defining the requirements for the Colorado Territory to become a state. Finally, on August 1, 1876, 28 days after the centennial celebration of Independence Day, the President of the United States signed an executive order admitting the 38th US state to the Union.

According to the 1930 census, the state's population exceeded one million people. Colorado was hit hard by the Great Depression, but its fortunes were restored after World War II. The most important sectors of the state's economy are mining, agriculture and tourism.

Geography of Colorado

Colorado is one of three states (along with Wyoming and Utah) whose borders are all parallels and meridians, and, like Wyoming, it simply forms 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 269.8 thousand sq. km. 37% of Colorado is national parks.

Colorado Climate

Colorado's climate is quite mysterious. The southern part of the state is not always warmer than the northern part. The fact is that the climate is greatly influenced by the Rocky Mountains: with increasing altitude, the temperature decreases and humidity increases. By climatic conditions the state is divided into two parts: the eastern plains and the western foothills.

In the east, the climate is temperate continental: low humidity, moderate precipitation (380–630 mm per year). It has one of the highest average daily temperatures in the United States. In summer, temperatures rise to 35 °C (on average), and in winter they can drop to −18 °C. Western Colorado's climate is more uniform. There are arid places here, at higher elevations mountain climate. The hottest month is July (21 °C). Winters here are very wet, which is the opposite of the eastern part of the state.

State of Colorado

The state of Colorado has borders with Wyoming and Nebraska in the north, with Nebraska and Kansas in the east, Oklahoma and New Mexico to the south, and Utah to the west. At the same time, the southwestern corner of the state touches the northeastern corner of Arizona. The state's territory is 269.6 thousand square kilometers, and the population is about 4 million people. The capital and largest city of Colorado is Denver, which, together with its surrounding area, is home to almost half of the state's population - more than 1.7 million people.

The name of the state is of Spanish origin and means “red”: this is the color of the main local clay soils. The state is named after the Colorado River, known for its wild nature and canyons carved into the mountains, which include the Grand Canyon.

The Rocky Mountains cross the middle of the state from north to south. They contain the most high point Colorado - Mount Elbert, rising to 4399 meters. The continental divide runs along the line of the Rocky Mountains: the rivers starting on their western slopes flow to the Pacific Ocean, and on the eastern slopes to the Atlantic. The lower slopes of the Rocky Mountains are covered with forests, which in Colorado occupy about a quarter of the state's land area. To the west of the mountains begins the Colorado Plateau, and to the east lie the Great Plains. Western Colorado is sparsely populated settlements arose only in river valleys. The eastern part of the state is covered with fairly flat, treeless plains.

In dry, hot climates, agriculture is carried out only where artificial irrigation of the land can be carried out. True, about the climate of the state, as well as about a certain general characteristics his weather conditions, there is no need to say. The fact is that in certain mountainous areas a special microclimate develops, depending not only on the height of the area above sea level, but also on the rays of sunlight that fall on it (some mountains may be in the shadow of others, higher ones) and precipitation (clouds catch on beyond individual mountain ranges, spilling onto the windward slopes and not reaching the leeward ones).

The mountains make communication between the districts of the state difficult, but it is in them that the main riches of Colorado lie. The development of the state's economy began with mining. The Gold Rush of the 1850s contributed to Colorado's rapid population growth. However, currently the main income comes from the gas industry. About three hundred natural gas fields have been discovered in the state, and over the past fifteen years its production has at least doubled. The most promising gas wells are in the northwestern part of the state. Colorado also produces enough oil and coal to supply local thermal power plants, as well as power plants in Utah and Illinois. The extraction of zinc and lead plays an important role, and the state ranks second in the United States in terms of molybdenum, necessary for the smelting of especially strong grades of steel.

To provide food for the miners, the state's agriculture began to develop. Although Colorado produces wheat, corn, and a variety of vegetables, the main focus of agriculture is livestock. Once upon a time, countless herds of bison grazed the Great Plains. Now these majestic animals can only be seen on private lands, and sheep and cattle graze on the Colorado prairies.

In the second half of the 20th century, manufacturing enterprises using local raw materials began to develop in the state. The most important types of products manufactured in Colorado are instrumentation, communications equipment, computers and electronic components, rubber products, steel, and medical equipment. Good income comes from the production of optical instruments.

The Colorado mountains attract tourists with their beauty. Built in the Rocky Mountains winter resorts world class and tourism is gradually gaining importance in the state's economy.

The first Europeans to come to Colorado were the Spaniards, who formally declared their claims to this land at the beginning of the 18th century. However, earlier, in 1682, the Frenchman La Salle assigned to his fatherland all the lands between the Alleghenies and the Rocky Mountains, although he himself never visited west of the river Mississippi. This territory was sold to the United States in 1803 along with the rest of Louisiana. While exploring new possessions, American explorers invaded Spanish possessions and were arrested. The issue of disputed border territories was resolved only by 1819. The southwestern part of Colorado was recognized as the possession of Spain, and the northeastern part as the possession of the United States. In 1821, the southwest went to Mexico, and after the US victory in the Mexican War in 1848, it went to the Americans.

Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876. Because its entry into the United States coincided with the centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence, it was nicknamed the "Centennial State" or "Jubilee" State.

The state of Colorado stands at the origins of the history of American national parks - nature reserves. In 1879, the first national park was founded there - Yellowstone, which to this day is the most famous in America. Its appearance is the result of a conscious struggle of those who wanted to protect a beautiful corner of nature from the exploitation of miners and timber harvesters rushing to the northwestern United States. The creators of Yellowstone managed to preserve a piece of American nature in its pristine state, the way it was before the arrival of Europeans. In the park in natural environment Various animals live, giant sequoias grow, the largest and longest-living trees on earth, hot springs geysers gush out of the ground.

From the book Nikola Tesla [The Legacy of a Great Inventor] author Feigin Oleg Orestovich

Chapter 2: Miracles in Colorado Springs Human progress is inherently linked to invention. This is the most important product of his creative thought. His ultimate goal is the complete conquest of the material world by reason, using the forces of nature for the benefit of man. It's complicated