Geography Colorado
1 geography
1.1 mountains
1.2 plains
1.3 front range
1.4 continental divide
1.5 southern region
1.6 peaks
1.7 colorado western slope
geography
colorado notable diverse geography, ranging alpine mountains, arid plains , deserts huge sand dunes, deep canyons, sandstone , granite rock formations, rivers, lakes, , lush forests. borders of colorado defined lines of latitude , longitude, making shape latitude-longitude quadrangle stretches 37°n 41°n latitude , 102°03 w 109°03 w longitude (25°w 32°w washington meridian). colorado, wyoming , utah states have boundaries defined solely lines of latitude , longitude.
the elk mountains near aspen, colorado showing maroon bells
ten mile range , dillon reservoir near breckenridge, colorado
mountains
the summit of mount elbert @ 14,440 feet (4,401.2 m) elevation in lake county highest point in colorado , rocky mountains of north america. colorado u.s. state lies entirely above 1,000 meters elevation. point arikaree river flows out of yuma county, colorado, , cheyenne county, kansas, lowest point in colorado @ 3,317 feet (1,011 m) elevation. point, holds distinction of being highest low elevation point of state, higher high elevation points of 18 states , district of columbia.
a view of arid high plains in southeastern colorado
the calhan paint mines on colorado eastern plains
plains
a little less 1 half of area of colorado flat , rolling land. east of rocky mountains colorado eastern plains of high plains, section of great plains within nebraska @ elevations ranging 3,350 7,500 feet (1,020 2,290 m). colorado plains prairies, have many patches of deciduous forests, buttes, , canyons. eastern colorado presently covered in farmland , rangeland, along small farming villages , towns. precipitation fair, averaging 15 25 inches (380 640 mm) annually. corn, wheat, hay, soybeans, , oats typical crops, , of villages , towns in region boast both water tower , grain elevator. irrigation water available south platte, arkansas river, , few other streams, , subterranean sources, including artesian wells. however, heavy use of ground water wells irrigation has caused underground water reserves decline. crop agriculture, eastern colorado hosts considerable livestock, such cattle ranches , hog farms.
front range
front range peaks west of denver
roughly 70% of colorado s population resides along eastern edge of rocky mountains in front range urban corridor between cheyenne, wyoming, , pueblo, colorado. region partially protected prevailing storms blow in pacific ocean region high rockies in middle of colorado. front range includes denver, boulder, fort collins, loveland, colorado springs, pueblo, greeley , other townships , municipalities in between. on other side of rockies, significant population centers in western colorado (which not considered front range ) cities of grand junction, durango, , montrose.
continental divide
continental divide @ monarch pass
the continental divide of americas extends along crest of rocky mountains. area of colorado west of continental divide called western slope of colorado. drainage water west of continental divide flows southwest via colorado river , green river gulf of california.
within interior of rocky mountains several large parks high broad basins. in north, on east side of continental divide north park of colorado. north park drained north platte river, flows north wyoming , nebraska. south of north park, on western side of continental divide, middle park of colorado, drained colorado river. south park of colorado region of headwaters of south platte river.
southern region
the tallest dunes in north america @ great sand dunes national park in southern colorado
in southmost colorado large san luis valley, headwaters of rio grande located. valley sits between sangre de cristo mountains , san juan mountains, , consists of large desert lands run mountains. rio grande drains due south new mexico, mexico, , texas. across sangre de cristo range east of san luis valley lies wet mountain valley. these basins, particularly san luis valley, lie along rio grande rift, major geological formation of rocky mountains, , branches.
the high desert lands make san luis valley in southern colorado
peaks
to west of great plains of colorado rises eastern slope of rocky mountains. notable peaks of rocky mountains include longs peak, mount evans, pikes peak, , spanish peaks near walsenburg, in southern colorado. area drains east , southeast, either via mississippi river or rio grande gulf of mexico.
peaks of san juan mountains
the rocky mountains within colorado contain 53 peaks 14,000 feet (4,267 m) or higher in elevation above sea level, known fourteeners. these mountains largely covered trees such conifers , aspens tree line, @ elevation of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) in southern colorado 10,500 feet (3,200 m) in northern colorado. above alpine vegetation grows. small parts of colorado rockies snow-covered year round.
much of alpine snow melts mid-august exception of few snowcapped peaks , few small glaciers. colorado mineral belt, stretching san juan mountains in southwest boulder , central city on front range, contains of historic gold- , silver-mining districts of colorado. mount elbert highest summit of rocky mountains. 30 highest major summits of rocky mountains of north america lie within state.
black canyon of gunnison national park near montrose
rim arch in black ridge canyons wilderness in western colorado
sandstone cliffs along colorado river north of wolcott
hanging lake near glenwood springs
colorado western slope
the grand valley in western colorado, large valley made of high desert terrain. city of grand junction located in heart of valley
the western slope of colorado drained colorado river , tributaries (primarily gunnison river, green river , san juan river) or evaporation in arid areas. colorado river flows through glenwood canyon , through arid valley made of desert rifle parachute, through desert canyon of de beque canyon, , arid desert of grand valley, city of grand junction located. prominent in or near southern portion of western slope grand mesa, lies southeast of grand junction; high san juan mountains, rugged mountain range; , west of san juan mountains, colorado plateau, high arid region borders southern utah.
the city of grand junction, colorado largest city on western slope. grand junction , durango major centers of television broadcasting west of continental divide in colorado, though mountain resort communities publish daily newspapers. higher education in , near western slope can found @ colorado mesa university in grand junction, western state college of colorado in gunnison, fort lewis college in durango, , colorado mountain college in glenwood springs , steamboat springs.
grand junction located along interstate 70, major highway in western colorado. grand junction along major railroad of western slope, union pacific. railroad provides tracks amtrak s california zephyr passenger train, crosses rocky mountains between denver , grand junction via route on there no continuous highways.
the colorado national monument near grand junction. monument made of high desert canyons , sandstone rock formations
the western slope lies in close proximity multiple notable destinations in colorado rocky mountains, including glenwood springs, resort hot springs, , ski resorts of aspen, breckenridge, vail, crested butte, steamboat springs, , telluride.
the northwestern corner of colorado sparsely populated region, , contains part of noted dinosaur national monument, not paleontological area, scenic area of rocky hills, canyons, arid desert, , streambeds. here, green river briefly crosses on colorado.
from west east, land of colorado consists of desert lands, desert plateaus, alpine mountains, national forests, relatively flat grasslands, scattered forests, buttes, , canyons in western edge of great plains. famous pikes peak located west of colorado springs. isolated peak visible kansas border on clear days, , far north , south.
desert lands in colorado located in , around areas such pueblo, canon city, florence, great sand dunes national park , preserve, san luis valley, cortez, canyon of ancients national monument, hovenweep national monument, ute mountain, delta, grand junction, colorado national monument, , other areas surrounding uncompahgre plateau , uncompahgre national forest.
the 4 corners monument, ute mountain in distance
colorado 1 of 4 states in united states share common geographic point – 4 corners arizona, new mexico, , utah. @ intersection, possible stand in 4 states @ once.
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