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Denver - sunny oasis by the Rocky Mountains |
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Written by jane69
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Monday, 12 September 2005 |
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Page 1 of 2  | | 16th Street in Denver |
For many people who have never been to the city and who only know that Denver lies somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, this capital city of the hilly state of Colorado is probably synonymous with stormy winds. The opposite is true, however. Denver is geographically isolated city, dramatically situated at an imposing altitude, with the 15th step of its Capitol, precisely one mile above sea level on the Colorado Plains. Thanks to its 300 sunny days per year, it actually surpasses holiday places such as Florida, Miami or Honolulu. It’s even warmer here in the winter than it is in New York or, say, St. Louis.
 | | Denver cityscape |
Irrespective of its altitude, Denver is situated in a flat area, protected to the east by an extensive desert terrain, although mountain peaks topping 14,000 feet are barely 20 minutes drive west. The city’s appeal lies not only in the mild and dry climate and the surrounding natural beauty, but also its architecture, clean streets and its 200 green parks, a combination which has created a unique atmosphere. It’s therefore no surprise that over one million Americans from other parts of the country moved in during the past decade alone; these “immigrants” now make up a quarter of Denver’s population.
 To see how dynamic the city, known as “the Mile High City”, is, you need only look at its new international airport - Stapleton Airport. The chief terminal has a floor space of 1,300,000 sq feet, a main hall more than four soccer field and a roof with 34 irregular tops that resemble the Rocky Mountains on the horizon.
 Denver was literally founded “in the middle of nowhere”, as a result of the silver and gold rush in the 19th century. In 1953, with the construction of the first skyscrapers, Denver started the quickly transformation from “cow town” to vibrant modern city. The LoDo quarter, the Victorian Lower Downtown area in the northern part of the city centre, contains evidence of this period.  Meticulously restored Victorian houses have been turned into restaurants, art galleries and shops as well as offices, but LoDo also enjoys the highest number of brewery pubs which make and tap their own beer. Apart from the hundreds of brands of this unique golden liquid, the genuine bison steaks deserve a mention. The largest and best known restaurant Buckhorn Exchange, decorated with 500 stuffed prairie animals, also serves this popular local specialty.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 November 2005 )
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To see how dynamic the city, known as “the Mile High City”, is, you need only look at its new international airport - Stapleton Airport. The chief terminal has a floor space of 1,300,000 sq feet, a main hall more than four soccer field and a roof with 34 irregular tops that resemble the Rocky Mountains on the horizon.;)
Denver was literally founded “in the middle of nowhere”, as a result of the silver and gold rush in the 19th century. In 1953, with the construction of the first skyscrapers, Denver started the quickly transformation from “cow town” to vibrant modern city. The LoDo quarter, the Victorian Lower Downtown area in the northern part of the city centre, contains evidence of this period. ;)
Meticulously restored Victorian houses have been turned into restaurants, art galleries and shops as well as offices, but LoDo also enjoys the highest number of brewery pubs which make and tap their own beer. Apart from the hundreds of brands of this unique golden liquid, the genuine bison steaks deserve a mention. The largest and best known restaurant Buckhorn Exchange, decorated with 500 stuffed prairie animals, also serves this popular local specialty.;)
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