Colorado

Colorado, located in the western United States, became America’s 38th state on August 1, 1876. Because it became a state in America’s 100th birthday year, it is nicknamed the Centennial State. It is also called the Rocky Mountain State. Nearly six million people live in Colorado. Colorado, which is shaped like a rectangle, borders Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. It is one of the Four Corner States. Its capital and largest city is Denver. Two great American landforms converge in Colorado: the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. The eastern part of Colorado is made up mostly of plains and grasslands, whereas central and western Colorado feature the towering Rocky Mountain Range. Southwestern Colorado is mostly desert. Colorado is famous for its many ski resort towns including Vail, Aspen, and Breckenridge.

Utah

Utah, one of the Four Corner States, is located in the western United States. It became America’s 45th state on January 4, 1896. Utah is nicknamed the Beehive State to honor its hard-working people. Today, the state is home to over three million people. Utah borders Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. Salt Lake City is Utah’s capital and largest city. It was built on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Utah features breathtaking scenery. It has five national parks including the world-famous Zion and Arches National Parks. Visitors from throughout the world come to see the colorful rock formations, cliffs, and mountain vistas. Utah’s western half is mostly desert. Utah is also famous for its world-class ski resorts.