Colorado and Landsat

Abstract

Colorado’s geography seems designed to impress. Although the Rocky Mountains takes up only one-half of the State, more than 50 of its peaks rise at least 14,000 feet above sea level—far more “fourteeners” than any other State. Many of these mountains receive hundreds of inches of snow annually. The Rocky Mountains provide the Continental Divide, or watershed boundary, for North America. Three of the United States’ seven longest rivers originate in Colorado’s mountains: the Rio Grande, the Colorado, and the Arkansas Rivers. The mountains are also home to 11 national forests. Residents and tourists find many ways to appreciate the stunning views, from hiking and skiing to camping and birdwatching, in ecosystems that also include grasslands and shrublands.