Definitions:
a river which rises in the rocky mountains of northern colorado and flows generally south-westwards for 2,333 km (1,468 miles) to the gulf of california, passing through the grand canyon.

a state in the central us; population 4,939,456 (est. 2008); capital, denver. colorado extends from the great plains in the east to the rocky mountains in the west. part of it was acquired by the louisiana purchase in 1803 and the rest ceded by mexico in 1848. it became the 38th state of the us in 1876.