Colorado is a state in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States of America. The highest peaks of the United States portion of the Rockies are here, as are the highest peaks of the "Basin and Range" province and a number of other natural marvels. http://www.colorado.com/ is the official state tourism Web site.

Regions

 • Eastern Slope
 • Western Slope

Geography

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 arranged in various groups or ranges. (Interestingly, the largest single range in the state, the San Juan Mountains of the southwestern quarter, aren't technically part of the Rockies.) Meandering through the mountains is an imaginary line called the Continental Divide. This marks the flow of precipitation. Rain falling on the west of the Divide makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. Rain on the east makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Colorado has 54 mountain peaks above 14,000 ft of elevation. Tourism is a major industry, with skiing, hiking/camping, hunting, and fishing as large sources of income for the state economy.

The population of the state is growing, particularly in the large towns along the Front Range where the prairie and mountains meet. These towns include the capital, Denver, and Colorado Springs, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins. Many of the residents of Colorado migrated from other states so being a "Colorado Native" is a point of pride with many people.

Activities

 • Of the 54 so-called "Fourteeners" (those mountains with an elevation above 14,000 ft.), many can be climbed without ropes or technical experience. The rewards are breathtaking. An informative web page is http://www.14ers.com .The current standard among introductory guidebooks to routes on Fourteeners is Borneman and Lampert, "A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners." This book is updated frequently to reflect changes in access restrictions (several are on private land or have private holdings high on the mountain that interfere with some routes), and the latest edition as of 2005 is ISBN 0871088509. Be prepared for crowds on some of the more popular summits during the summer on weekends.
 • There are also many "high Thirteeners" that are nearly as rewarding to climb as the Fourteeners, while typically far less crowded with would-be mountaineers. Some of the high Thirteeners are more technically difficult than any Fourteener and require rope and technical expertise.