Английская Википедия:Geography of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs geography describes geographical topics regarding the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado in El Paso County, Colorado. With Шаблон:Convert of land, it is the state's largest-sized city. Denver is the most populated city.
Physical geography
Colorado Springs is located in the Pikes Peak area in El Paso County, along the Front RangeШаблон:RШаблон:Rp a forty-mile corridor from the city up to Fort Carson.[1] At the edge of the southern Rocky Mountains,Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp it is bordered by State, National Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management land.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp North of the city is the Palmer Divide, the plains and grasslands are to the east, and Pueblo and high desert lands lie to the south.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp The city was founded at the confluence of Monument Creek with Fountain Creek of the Arkansas River watershed.[2][3]Шаблон:Rp Its major highway is Interstate 25 that runs along that Front Range Urban Corridor to Castle Rock, Denver, Fort Collins, and Pueblo.[4]Шаблон:Rp
Colorado Springs, with an average rainfall of about 15-16 inches,Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp has a semi-arid climate with relatively mild temperatures. The terrain is drier south of the city. Colorado Springs is Шаблон:Convert in elevation.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
Topography
The city, founded near the confluence of Fountain and Monument Creeks, primarily on Pierre Shale. On the eastern side of the city are hills of Tertiary and Cretaceous sandstone. Sandstone ledges are Dakota Formation. Pedimont rock is prevalent in the north portion of the city. There are pediment gravels on the west side. The mountains have been quarried for limestone.[2]Шаблон:Rp
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Pulpit Rock, northeastern part of the city
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Palmer Park, northeastern part of the city
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Pikes Peak looking west from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus
Scenic Pennsylvanian rock formations are found at Garden of the Gods.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp The natural gap between the sandstone Austin Bluffs is Templeton Gap, and a few westernmost portions of the city are on the east escarpment's slope of the Southern Rocky Mountains section adjacent to the Colorado Piedmont, separated by the Fall line of the Front Range.
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Downtown Colorado Springs
Land use
Colorado Springs is 70 miles south of Denver, which has the largest population of any city in Colorado. Colorado Springs has the largest area of any city in the state, with Шаблон:Convert in 2013.Шаблон:R Of that, Шаблон:Convert is developed land.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp It has 16,331 parkland acres and 7,431 street land miles.[5]
Residential
Of the city's land, 26% is residential. The higher the percentage, the greater the demand and total costs for city services, like recreational and park facilities.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp The population growth has been significant since the 1970s.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
Institutional and commercial
Institutional and commercial property use a total of about 17% of the city's land.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp The city, once an urban-industrial society, has become a modern-technological one.
Military facilities in Colorado Springs include North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), United States Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, and Fort Carson.[6]Шаблон:Rp
Parks
The city owns more than 15,000 acres of open space and park, including Garden of the Gods, and Palmer Park, and North Cheyenne Cañon Park.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp There are more than 6,000 acres of open space land, 8,000 acres of parkland, and about 300 miles of trails in Colorado Springs and the nearby area.[7]Шаблон:Rp The city, which borders national and state park lands, has canyons, bluffs, mesas, rock formations, treed foothills, mountain creeks, and grasslands.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp The city's Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department also manages urban forest, two golf courses, recreation centers and programs, and the Pikes Peak Highway.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
Hydrology
About 1% of the city's land is water.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp Colorado Springs is located within the Шаблон:Convert Fountain Creek Watershed, which is part of the Arkansas River watershed to the south. Fountain Creek's source is northwest of the city near Woodland Park.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp It meets up with Monument Creek in Colorado Springs and Fountain Creek then flows downstream to Pueblo, where is merges into the Arkansas River. Other creeks in the area are Bear Creek, Sand Creek, and Cottonwood Creek.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp There are two natural lakes and five reservoirs. The bodies of water are important for recreation, like hiking and fishing, and serve as wildlife habitats.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp Wetlands, like Tejon Marsh and Monument Valley Park, provide habitat for wildlife, birds, and fish.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp Water from the nearby mountain provide the city's water supply.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
Initiatives have been implemented to ensure water quality, improve water drainage, and optimize recreational use. In 2011, the Fountain Creek Watershed completed its master plan to limit pollution entering the stream.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp It also implemented programs for educational experiences, recreational activities, and stable wetlands. Trails were created and improved along Fountain Creek within Colorado Springs and to Pueblo. Adopt-a-Waterway is managed by the city's Stormwater Engineering Department to keep the trails and waterways clean.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
Vacant and agricultural land
The largest land use category is vacant and agricultural land at 32% in 2012 of land in the city.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp More than half of the land (57%) in this category is in the 24,000 acre Banning Lewis Ranch on the city's eastern edge. Another key geographical location for future development is the northern edge of Colorado Springs.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp Like Pueblo and Denver, undeveloped land in and around the city is often used for livestock grazing and farming.[8]
Other
This general category includes golf courses, cemeteries, and road right of way.Шаблон:RШаблон:Rp
See also
- Colorado Springs metropolitan area
- Front Range Urban Corridor
- History of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Parks, open spaces and trails
- Pikes Peak
References
Further reading
External map
Шаблон:Colorado Springs Шаблон:Colorado
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