State Facts

Great Sand Dunes National Monument, near Alamosa, contains some of the largest and highest sand dunes in North America.
 

In 1858 a party of prospectors led by William Green Russell discovered gold in what is now downtown Denver.
 

With an average elevation of about 2070 m (6800 ft), Colorado is the highest of all the states.
 

Millions of pronghorn and bison roamed the high plains of Colorado before the species were hunted nearly to extinction.

The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs.

The world's largest flat-top mountain is in Grand Mesa.

The highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans off of I-70 from Idaho Springs. The Road climbs up to 14,258 Ft. above sea level.

The United States federal government owns more than 1/3 of the land in Colorado.

Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America.

Colorado is the only state in history, to turn down the Olympics.  In 1976 the Winter Olympics were planned to be held in Denver. 62% of all state Voters choose at almost the last minute not to host the Olympics, because of the cost, pollution and population boom it would have on the State Of Colorado, and the City of Denver.

The 13th step of the state capital building in Denver is exactly 1 mile high above sea level.

Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,430 feet elevation.

Katherine Lee Bates wrote "America the Beautiful" after being inspired by the view from Pikes Peak.

Colorado has the highest mean altitude of all the states.

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.

The world's largest natural hot springs pool is located in Glenwood Springs.

Colorado's southwest corner borders Arizona, New Mexico and Utah the only place in America where the corners of four states meet.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday's brief and tumultuous existence led him to Glenwood Springs where he succumbed to tuberculosis and died at the Hotel Glenwood on November 8, 1887.

Colorado earns its nickname “Mother of Rivers” because more major rivers have their source in Colorado than in any other state.
 

The largest of the hundreds of natural lakes in Colorado is Grand Lake, which is almost one full square mile!  There are also nearly 2000 larger man-made lakes in Colorado.
 

Aquamarine (state’s official gemstone) was first discovered in 1881 on Mt. Antero by Nelson Wanamaker.  Mt Antero is the highest known gemstone-collecting site in North America and still yields gem quality aquamarine one hundred years after that amazing first discovery.