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PART II--GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT <br /> LOCATION AND SIZE <br /> The location of Colorado with reference to its surrounding states and its <br /> longitude and latitude is shown on exhibit 1.1. Colorado's eastern boundary is <br /> approximately 170 miles west of the Historic Center of the 48 contiguous states, <br /> its northern boundary approximately 570 miles from the Canadian border and its <br /> southern boundary approximately 340 miles from the Mexican border. The <br /> southwest corner of Colorado is approximately 700 miles from the nearest point <br /> on the Pacific Ocean. <br /> Colorado, with an area of 104,247 square miles, ranks seventh in size <br /> among the 48 contiguous states. Colorado is 387 miles east to west and 276 miles <br /> north to south. <br /> PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES AND RIVER BASINS <br /> Five physiographic provinces of the North American Continent extend across <br /> or into Colorado. The Great Plains extend into the eastern part of the State and <br /> make up approximately 45 percent of its area. The Southern Rocky Mountains <br /> extend through the center of Colorado and constitute approximately 32 percent <br /> of the State's area. The western part of Colorado extends into the Colorado <br /> Plateau, sometimes referred to as the Canyon Lands. This province covers <br /> approximately 16 percent of Colorado. Other provinces that make up a small <br /> part of the State are the Wyoming Basin and the Middle Rocky Mountains. They <br /> extend into the northwestern part and constitute nearly 5 and 1 percent, respec- <br /> tively, of the State's area. <br /> For planning purposes, the State was divided along its major drainage basin <br /> boundaries. These boundaries represent hydrologic lines which are of major <br /> importance in studies concerning water resources. For reporting economic <br /> conditions, the same divisions were used except the boundaries follow the county <br /> lines which most nearly approximate the basin boundaries. <br /> Three major river systems, the Arkansas, Colorado, and the Rio Grande, <br /> originate in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as do the North and South Platte <br /> Rivers which are major tributaries of the Missouri River. The Republican <br /> 2.1 <br />