Higher Education  

Colorado has more than thirty accredited institutions of higher learning, including around 17 colleges and universities, and 15 community colleges. The state's largest university is the University of Colorado, with campuses in Boulder (main campus), Colorado Springs, and Denver. Other state-supported institutions include Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colorado School of Mines at Golden, University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, Adams State College at Alamosa, Western State College of Colorado at Gunnison, University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo, Fort Lewis College at Durango, Colorado Technical College at Colorado Springs, and Metropolitan State College at Denver. Private colleges include the University of Denver, Loreto Heights College, and Regis College.

Geography

Colorado's average elevation, 2073 meters, is higher than that of all the other states in the USA. Having an area of 269,595 square kilometers, Colorado ranks eighth among the states in terms of size. The state can be divided geographically into four main regions: the Great Plains, in the eastern part of the state; the Rocky Mountains, in central Colorado; the Colorado Plateau, in the west; and the Intermountain Basin, in the northwest corner. Colorado has a population of nearly 3 million. Major cities are Denver (capital), Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, and Pueblo.

Climate

Although Colorado's climate is generally sunny and dry, weather conditions vary greatly according to differences in altitude. Cool summers and cold, snowy winters are typical for the state's high mountains. The highest peaks may remain covered with deep layers of snow year-round. In some mountain areas, the average January temperature is -8° C while the average July temperature is 13° C. On the plains, the average January temperature is -2° C and the average July temperature is 23° C. As much as 1,016 cm of snow may accumulate annually in the Rocky Mountains. Denver averages 150 cm of snow each year.

Cultural Profile

Denver is home to several excellent museums, including the Denver Museum of Natural History, the Denver Art Museum, the Train Art Museum and Gallery, the Museum of Western Art, the Colorado State Museum, and the Denver Children's Museum. Some of the other museums in the state are the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, the Boulder Center for the Visual Arts in Boulder, and the Gold Mine Museum in Central City.

Among the performing arts organizations based in Denver are the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the Denver Center Theater Company, Opera Colorado, and the Colorado Ballet. Held every summer in Aspen, the Aspen Music Festival has received national acclaim. Outdoor concerts are held each summer at the famous Red Rocks Park near Morrison, and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder is another annual outdoor summertime event.

Recreation

Colorado's main wintertime attraction is skiing. The state's more than thirty ski areas attract skiers from all over the world. There is no shortage of activities during the rest of the year: fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, white-water rafting, canoeing, horseback riding, golf, sailing, swimming, backpacking, and cycling are just a few of the other outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer. Stretching from Denver to Durango, the "Colorado Trail" is a 756-km hiking trail that crosses seven national forests, five major river systems, and six wilderness areas. Altogether, Colorado has twelve national forests occupying around 5.6 million hectares of land.

Interesting Facts

The United States Air Force Academy is located near Colorado Springs. A silver nugget weighing around 835 kilograms was found at Aspen, Colorado, in 1894. The state capitol in Denver features a gold-plated dome. Ruth Handler, the inventor of "Barbie" (the world's best-selling doll), is from Denver, Colorado. Some famous Coloradoans are Willard Libby (Nobel Prize winner), Douglas Fairbanks (movie actor), Jack Dempsey (heavyweight boxing champion), and John Denver (singer/songwriter).

 

General Information State Bird: Lark Bunting State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine State Tree: Blue Spruce State Capitol: Denver Area: 269,998 sq. km Population: 3,294,000 Elevation: 4399m-102m Major Cities: Denver / Colorado Springs Industry Information Agriculture Industry: Beef, Wheat, Corn, Milk and Sugar Beets Fishing Industry: None Mining Industry: Petroleum, Molybdenum and Coal Manufacturing Industry: Primary Metals, Instruments, Printed Materials, Stone, Clay and Glass Products Temperature Range Spring Temperature (range): 1C / 16C (Denver) Summer Temperature (range): 14C / 31C (Denver) Fall Temperature (range): 3C / 19C (Denver) Winter Temperature (range): -9C / 6C (Denver)