| Colorado | |
 | |
Location  | |
Flag  | |
| State | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Region | Rocky Mountains |
| Capital | Denver |
| Surface | 269,837 |
| Inhabitants | 5.355.866 (2014 estimate), 5.029.196 (2010 census) |
| Tourism site | |
| Institutional website | |
Colorado is a federated state of USA.
To know
Is called Centennial State because it became a federated state of the United States in 1876, one hundred years after the United States Declaration of Independence.
The name derives from the SpanishColorado, which means colored (red), and was originally given to the Colorado River, whose waters are red when it floods through the eroded terrain of the canyons.
Geographical notes
Colorado is bordered to the north by the Wyoming and the Nebraska, to the south with theOklahoma and the New Mexico, to the west with theUtah and to the east with the Kansas; in one point it touches theArizona and it is the famous quadruple border point that gives rise to what Americans use to call i Four corner states.
It is the only state to be entirely above 1,000 m a.s.l. of altitude, with an average altitude of about 2,000 m.
East of Rocky Mountains southern there is in fact a vast plateau (Colorado Eastern Plains), part of that highland region (High Plains) which is the continuation of the region of Great Plains.
To the west are the Rocky Mountains which feature dozens of peaks above 4,000m. and whose major peaks are Longs Peak, Mount Evans, Pikes Peak is Spanish Peaks near Walsenburg in the south, while Mount Elbert (4,399 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak
West of the Front Range, the chain of mountains that clearly marks the boundary between the mountainous landscape of the west and the plains of the east, is the continental divide.
When to go
The climate is generally very arid, with little rainfall. Summers are hot and muggy, with temperatures that can easily reach 40 ° C. In winter, the climate remains mild in the east, while in the west closer to the Rocky Mountains there are average temperatures of 6 ° C and considerable rainfall, including the capital. Denver.
Background
The first Europeans Spanish explorers arrived in the area in the 16th century. They were looking for gold, but they did not find it and soon left the area without attempting to colonize it. In 1682 the French explorer Robert Cavalier claimed for the France an area that is now eastern Colorado. In 1705 Juan de Ulibarri, a Spanish army officer, claimed the area for the Spain.
In 1803 the United States bought much of present-day Colorado from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase (all the eastern part of the Rocky Mountains).
In 1821 the Mexico it wrested control of western Colorado from Spain. During the US-Mexico War of 1846-1848, the area came under US control.
In 1858 several gold veins were found near the current one Denver, and many prospectors flocked to the area. By the end of 1859, about 100,000 people had settled in the area. There were problems with several tribes of Indians which culminated in the Sand Creek massacre.
On August 1, 1876, Colorado was annexed to the Union as the 38th state.
Spoken languages
The official language is theEnglish, but there are linguistic minorities in the region Spanish is French.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Denver - Capital of the Federated State of Colorado known as the Mile-High City.
- Boulder - A colorful college town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains not far from Denver, although it is a world of its own.
- Cañon City - Home to the Canon City Queen Anne Tea House, the Royal Gorge and the Supermax prison.
- Colorado Springs - It is the second most populous city in Colorado, with many natural attractions such as Pike Peak and the not far away "Garden of the Gods".
- Durango - Historic frontier town, with its famous narrow gauge railway and neighbor Mesa Verde National Park.
- Fort Collins - Historic city that has transformed into a trendy university town.
- Grand Junction - City hub ofnorthwestern area, access door of the Colorado wine region he was born in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
- Loveland - Historic city in northern Colorado.
- Pueblo - Gateway to Colorado for travelers arriving from the southeast.
