Colorado

Colorado is a state in the United States. It is mountainous and beautiful. It is known for its skiing and snowboarding resorts, such as Vail and Aspen. The Rocky Mountains run through Colorado, which is home to Rocky Mountain National Park. The winters are inclined to be very cold and preduce many snowstorms.

The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This town is also home to the influential conservative political group "Focus on the Family."

Elevation

A number of Colorado cities are located near the Front Range of the Rockies, at elevations of around 5,000 feet. Denver, its capital and largest city, is sometimes called "The Mile-High City, because the official elevation of Denver City Hall is exactly 5,280 feet.

At elevations of 5,000 feet, the air is thinner and air pressure is lower than at sea level. It is not unusual for visitors to feel lightheaded for a day or two until they adjust (but actual altitude sickness is very rare). At this altitude, skies are a clearer, brighter blue than at sea level.

Water boils at only 203 degrees F, compared to 212 degrees at sea level. Because of this, cooks need to adjust their recipes and follow high-altitude cooking instructions. Anything cooked by boiling, for example, will need to be boiled a little longer at high altitudes.