Colorado River
Colorado River — a force of desert carving and hydroelectric power — flows from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California, shaping landscapes and ecosystems across southwestern North America.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | American Southwest |
| Subregion | Western United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoNevadaUtahWyoming |
| County | Grand County (Utah)Clark County (Nevada)Mohave County (Arizona)San Juan County (New Mexico)Eureka County (Nevada)Mesa County (Colorado) |
| District | Grand CanyonVirgin RiverLower Basin |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 36 |
| Longitude | -112 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMEColorado River starts high in the Rocky Mountains of western Colorado and Wyoming, gathering meltwater from glaciers and snowpack. Over more than 2,000 kilometers, it tumbles through dramatic canyons—most famously the Grand Canyon—before reaching arid deserts of southern Nevada and California. The river supplies water for cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, irrigates agricultural lands across states, and produces hydroelectricity via dams such as Hoover Dam and Glen Canyon. Its flow is vital yet highly variable, closely tied to seasonal snowpack and long-term drought; management remains a complex balance of ecological health, human use, and climate change.
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