• Colorado is a western state in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States of America.
• The highest peaks of the North American Rockies are located in Colorado.
• Denver is the capital of Colorado.
• Colorado is split down the middle north to south by the Rocky Mountains. To the east is a region of high prairie, dry and wide open. To the west are rugged mountains.
• Colorado’s population is approximately 4,301,000.
• English is the main language, however Spanish is widely spoken.

HISTORY
• First visited by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, Colorado was claimed for Spain by Juan de Ulibarri in 1706.
• The U.S. obtained eastern Colorado as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the central portion in 1845 with the admission of Texas as a state, and the western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War.

INTERESTING FACTS
• The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs.
• The world’s largest flat-top mountain is in Grand Mesa.
• Colorado means “colored red” and is known as the “Centennial State.”
• The United States federal government owns more than 1/3 of the land in Colorado.
• Colorado has 222 state wildlife areas.
• Pueblo is the only city in America with four living recipients of the Medal of Honor.
• The tallest building in Colorado is the Republic Plaza at 57 stories high, in Denver.
• Every year Denver host the world’s largest Rodeo, the Western Stock show.
• The World’s First Rodeo was held on July 4th, 1869 in Deer Trail.
• Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.
• The highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet.
• Colorado’s southwest corner borders Arizona, New Mexico and Utah the only place in America where the corners of four states meet.

• Dehydration is a serious concern.
• If you’re going to hike anywhere in Colorado, take plenty of water (at least one gallon per person, per day), decent nonslip boots or sneakers, as well as layers of clothing.
• Always hike with a waterproof jacket.
• Let people know where you are going and when you expect to get back.
• Be careful and watch for lightning while hiking, especially in the high country.
• It’s often best to hike in the early morning to avoid the possibility of hitting an afternoon thunderstorm.
• The eastern plains region of Colorado is in tornado alley.
• Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail are not uncommon during the spring and summer months.
• Of the 25 species of snakes in Colorado, only two are venomous: the western rattlesnake, which lives almost everywhere, and the massasauga, which is limited to the grassy lands of the Eastern Plains.
• If you hear a rattle, it’s a warning. Freeze and look around for the snake. Move cautiously away from the snake once you locate it, even if it means cutting your hike short.

• Denver has an overall mild climate, with 300 sunny days a year
• Due to the Rocky Mountains which split the state in half, climate differs greatly from east to west, low to high. The weather changes rapidly and unpredictably, so be prepared for anything while traveling
• Colorado is also an exceptionally dry state, and has suffered through several recent droughts. Drink lots of waters and watch for dehydration.
• Winter is generally cold, though the weather is drastically different depending on elevation. The mountains are likely to experience frequent snow storms and colder temperatures.
• Lower elevations to the east of the Rockies experience occasional snow storms and even huge blizzards, but low temperatures seldom last long, and the winter is frequently interrupted by warm days with temperatures in the 50s, 60s, or even higher.
• While March is the snowiest month of the year, the warm days of spring are more frequent in this month
• Spring is generally brief and mild. Snow is not uncommon as late as May
• Summer is Colorado’s most predictable season. While days in the 80s and 90s are frequent, higher temperatures are not unheard of.
• Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent starting in mid-July and continuing until about mid-September.
• Fall is another fairly short season in Colorado. While daytime temperatures tend to stay warm, nighttime temperatures begin to drop starting in late August.

Mesa Verde National Park

Garden of the Gods Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Denver Zoo

Rocky Mountain National Park

Hanging Lake