The Mile High City
According to liuxers, Denver is the capital of the US state of Colorado and is located in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is 1,600 meters, or rather exactly one mile, above sea level. Therefore, the city is also referred to as ” The Mile High City “. Due to the city’s geographical location, Denver is treated to an above-average number of hours of sunshine over the course of the year. Due to the mountainous climate, there can be strong temperature differences and temperatures down to -20°C in Denver, especially in winter. The capital of Colorado is one of the most desirable places to live in the USA.
Denver, Colorado skyline with Ferril Lake in the foreground
Gold in the South Platte River
The founding of Denver as a city on the South Platte River dates back to an event in 1858. Gold prospectors and fortune seekers set out from Georgia that year to explore the previously large, unknown Colorado territory. By chance they found gold at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, in the bed of the South Platte River. This triggered a rush of people to the area. A first settlement, a place of residence for gold seekers, arose in 1858, which is considered the founding year of the city of Denver. Denver was granted city status in 1861. At that time the houses were made of wood. The city was almost completely destroyed in a fire in 1863. During the reconstruction, the focus was now mainly on buildings made of stone. In 1867, Denver City became the capital of what was then the Colorado Territory.
The ups and downs of the city of Denver
In 1870, Denver was connected to the rail network of the US railroad, which triggered an economic boost in the young city. When silver was discovered in the nearby Rocky Mountains 10 years later, the city’s population skyrocketed. Around 30 years after it was founded, 100,000 people were already living in the city. But it didn’t stay that way. As gold and silver discoveries subsided, Denver lurched into a long slumber that would last nearly 100 years. It wasn’t until oil was discovered in the region in the 1980’s that the city of Denver reawakened to prosperity.
Pedestrian Zone – Shopping Mall – in Denver Colorado
Exemplary infrastructure
Today, the city of Denver has a population of approximately 690,000, which together with the extended metropolitan area is home to approximately 2.9 million people. Denver on the South Platte River prides itself on the high standard of education of the people in the area. The unemployment rate is low, numerous large companies have settled in the city, also due to Denver’s excellent infrastructure. The capital of Colorado has the largest airport in the USA in terms of area. Denver is a modern and green city with bike lanes and a well-developed rail network going downtown. There is also a lively cultural life in the city, with numerous theaters.
In the center of beautiful landscapes
In the city on the Rocky Mountains there are good restaurants and pubs, as well as numerous museums and buildings worth seeing from times gone by. The city has a botanical garden, a zoo and an aquarium, as well as larger sports facilities. The capital of Colorado is the starting point for excursions into the surrounding natural region and the mountains of the nearby Rocky Mountains, in winter Denver serves as a base station for visiting the surrounding winter sports areas. Important national parks in the USA are easily accessible from Denver, such as Yellowstone National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Very close to Denver is Red Rocks, known for its open-air amphitheater with near-perfect acoustics.
Roof construction of Denver International Airport made of fiber canvas
Denver Airport – DIA
The Denver International Airport has been located about 40 kilometers outside the city limits since 1995. It is the second largest airport in the world in terms of area and the fifth largest in the United States in terms of passenger numbers and flight operations. As a special feature worth seeing, the passenger terminal has a roof construction that is particularly worth seeing. The roof consists of 34 Teflon-coated, and therefore self-cleaning, symbolic peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The tent-like constructions are translucent, moisture-proof and consist of glass fiber reinforced canvas (fiber canvas). Apart from the unique roof, the airport is very well stocked with other art objects on the grounds and in the buildings.
