The Rocky Mountains have a profound effect on life in Colorado.
Nothing shapes Colorado as profoundly as the Rocky Mountains. The state owes its identity to the rugged mountain chain. A period of intense geological activity that peaked about 55 million years ago was responsible for raising the Rockies. Since then, these mountains have directly influenced everything from the climate to plant and animal life in Colorado.
Geology
The Rocky Mountains have created a contrasting landscape throughout Colorado. Eastern Colorado has flat, rolling plains that form part of the Great Plains. It contains some patches of forests, buttes and canyons. Most of it is farmland, though, and small farming towns are scattered throughout the region.
Colorado's interior is dominated by mountains and foothills. Some 54 peaks rise 14,000 feet or higher above sea level. The 30 highest major summits in the Rocky Mountains are in Colorado. Much of the state's population lives along the Eastern Slope of the mountain chain. Western and southern Colorado are sparsely populated and marked by rugged mountains, deserts and desert plateaus.
Climate
Compared with other states, Colorado has an unusual climate. Mountains and surrounding valleys have a profound effect on the state's weather patterns. Eastern Colorado is typically semi-arid, with low humidity and moderate precipitation. Residents on the eastern plains experience hot and dry summers, followed by cold, snowy winters.
Western Colorado has less uniform weather patterns. Most valleys have a semi-arid climate and the mountainous areas have an alpine climate. Thunderstorms are common east of the Continental Divide in the spring and summer.
Plants
Colorado's plant life is diverse. The Rocky Mountains have created distinct ecological zones, rich with colorful plants. The eastern plains are marked by short prairie grass, including needlegrass, Indian ricegrass and Western wheatgrass.
Between the prairie and the mountains, the foothills are home to a variety of flowers and trees, including oak, mountain mahogany, juniper and pinon pine. In the higher zones, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and blue spruce trees are dominant.
Animals
Bighorn sheep are among Colorado's wildlife.
More than 960 wildlife species live in Colorado. The mountains' influence on geology and climate helped shape their development. Large animals such as black bears and mountain lions range through the foothills, canyons and plateaus. Bighorn sheep are found in higher zones.
River otters historically dominated the rivers of the state, and three different varieties of cutthroat trout can be found in these waters. Painted turtles thrive along some shorelines.
Tags: Rocky Mountains, Mountains have, Rocky Mountains have, Bighorn sheep, Eastern Colorado, eastern plains
