Colorado is known for its famous Rocky Mountains and is a year-round destination that boasts spectacular national parks, forests, gold-rush ghost towns and Native American ruins.

The capital, Denver, is the gateway to numerous ski resorts and is home to many museums, parks, gardens and a restored Victorian square. Located at 1609m (5280ft) above sea level, on high rolling plains at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, known as the Mile High City, has a population of 500,000 people and is the largest city within a 1000km (625-mile) radius. Founded as a gold-mining camp in 1859, Denver was the center of the Old West, filled with wagon trains, cowboys, Native Americans, gamblers and gunfighters.