Definitely not little, it’s actually the 8th-largest state of the USA, and larger than many countries (it’s a little smaller than Italy). It’s a weird one, because the West and East side are totally different: mountainous on the West side, flat in the East. The population lives mostly on the border between the two side, is very highly educated, mostly liberal for the USA, and is absolutely obsessed with the outdoors.
The mountain side boasts some of the most gorgeous landscapes on Earth. The orogeny that led to their creation was rapid, unusual (in that it was mid-craton and not on the edge), and recent, so that they are jagged and rough and wild. If you’d like to get an idea, just look up “San Juan mountains” in your image search engine of choice.
You are very welcome and thank you! It used to be my home, too, and I absolutely love love love it. One day, I’ll be back and the remaining 23 14ers will be very afraid!
Last winter there was a question about why a freeze warning in the northern plains states didn’t apply to other states to the East and West. And people were like “well, the mountains…” this and “uh, the Mississippi…” that, but I couldn’t get over how “y’all, you’re missing the big thing here. It’s not weird that so few states have the same weather, it’s weird that so many do.”
If you put the US over Europe, with New Mexico over Portugal, Maine would be over Moscow. The contiguous 48 states is basically the same size as China. By itself, it’s bigger than three whole continents (not combined).
The eastern half is flat and empty. The western half is mountainous like Switzerland, but also pretty empty. Most of the people live in a strip of cities along the foothills.
The mountains are impressive and the elevation gets nearly as high as the highest point in the alps. What’s weird about Colorado is that even the lowest elevation areas are really high up. Denver is at the base of the mountains, but is at 5280ft/1610m. For comparison, most of Switzerland’s cities are below 1500ft/500m.
Not American – can someone explain the state of Colorado to me? It looks like your own little Switzerland
Definitely not little, it’s actually the 8th-largest state of the USA, and larger than many countries (it’s a little smaller than Italy). It’s a weird one, because the West and East side are totally different: mountainous on the West side, flat in the East. The population lives mostly on the border between the two side, is very highly educated, mostly liberal for the USA, and is absolutely obsessed with the outdoors.
The mountain side boasts some of the most gorgeous landscapes on Earth. The orogeny that led to their creation was rapid, unusual (in that it was mid-craton and not on the edge), and recent, so that they are jagged and rough and wild. If you’d like to get an idea, just look up “San Juan mountains” in your image search engine of choice.
I feel like you know more about my home than I do, thanks for the educational write up
You are very welcome and thank you! It used to be my home, too, and I absolutely love love love it. One day, I’ll be back and the remaining 23 14ers will be very afraid!
I think this is something that many Europeans seem unable to grasp. The US is massive
Last winter there was a question about why a freeze warning in the northern plains states didn’t apply to other states to the East and West. And people were like “well, the mountains…” this and “uh, the Mississippi…” that, but I couldn’t get over how “y’all, you’re missing the big thing here. It’s not weird that so few states have the same weather, it’s weird that so many do.”
If you put the US over Europe, with New Mexico over Portugal, Maine would be over Moscow. The contiguous 48 states is basically the same size as China. By itself, it’s bigger than three whole continents (not combined).
A little smaller than Italy is truly crazy
Interesting. It definitely sounds like a unique state
The eastern half is flat and empty. The western half is mountainous like Switzerland, but also pretty empty. Most of the people live in a strip of cities along the foothills.
The mountains are impressive and the elevation gets nearly as high as the highest point in the alps. What’s weird about Colorado is that even the lowest elevation areas are really high up. Denver is at the base of the mountains, but is at 5280ft/1610m. For comparison, most of Switzerland’s cities are below 1500ft/500m.
Damn, that really is high
Less chocolate. More weed. Otherwise accurate.