Colorado River
Grand Canyon sculptor
The Colorado River is a major waterway of the American Southwest, flowing from the Rocky Mountains through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California to Mexico.
It carved the Grand Canyon and supplies water to cities and farms across seven states.
The Colorado River Compact divides water rights among the basin states.
A separate Colorado River flows through Texas to the Gulf of Mexico.
Massive Arizona gorge
- majesticImpressively dignified and beautiful
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- vistaPleasing distant scene
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
monumental · landscape · splendor · sublime · vastness · panorama · spectacular · breathtaking
Unbroken forward movement
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- basinConcave water receptacle
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- confluenceMeeting point of streams
headwaters · downstream · upstream · dam · reservoir · Hoover Dam · Lake Powell · Lake Mead
Turbulent, aerated river flow
- rapidsTurbulent river section
- paddlesHandheld water propulsion tools
- kayakingNavigating slim watercraft seated
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
oars · currents · guide · adventure · expedition · portage · eddy · splash
To leave behind completely
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- aridityAbsence of moisture
- sunbakedDried by solar heat
scorching · cacti · sagebrush · mesa · plateau · badlands · dryness · dust
Relating to riverbanks
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
aquatic · invasive species · conservation · delta · estuary · sediment · cottonwood · willow
Outer edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- divisionSplitting into parts
- Arizona48th state admitted
- CaliforniaWest coast megastate
Nevada · Mexico · compact · allocation · water rights · interstate · international · partition
Grand Canyon
Massive Arizona gorge
awe-inspiring · monumental · landscape · splendor · sublime · vastness · panorama · spectacular · breathtaking · dramatic
flow
Unbroken forward movement
confluence · headwaters · downstream · upstream · dam · reservoir · Hoover Dam · Lake Powell · Lake Mead · gauge
whitewater
Turbulent, aerated river flow
- rapidsTurbulent river section
- paddlesHandheld water propulsion tools
- kayakingNavigating slim watercraft seated
lifejacket · oars · currents · guide · adventure · expedition · portage · eddy · splash · drift
desert
To leave behind completely
sunbaked · scorching · cacti · sagebrush · mesa · plateau · badlands · dryness · dust · sand
riparian
Relating to riverbanks
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
wetlands · aquatic · invasive species · conservation · delta · estuary · sediment · cottonwood · willow · flora
border
Outer edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- divisionSplitting into parts
- Arizona48th state admitted
California · Nevada · Mexico · compact · allocation · water rights · interstate · international · partition · frontier
- Colorado PlacesDenver, Durango, Vail, Golden, Greeley
- natural waterssprings, hot springs, streams, creeks, ponds
- Southwestmesa, Monument Valley, Arizona, New Mexico, Grand Canyon
- U.S. WatersMissouri, Susquehanna, Great Lakes, Connecticut, Hudson
- US WatersAtlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay
- Colorado DesertCoachella Valley, cholla, barrel cactus, bighorn sheep, desert tortoise
Colorado RiverMississippi River
Longest North American watercourse
Missouri River · Ohio River · Columbia River · Hudson River · St. Lawrence River
Colorado RiverAmazon River
Brazil's massive waterway
Congo River · Mississippi River · Ganges River · Nile River · Columbia River
Colorado RiverMississippi River
Longest North American watercourse
Ohio River · Hudson River · Potomac River · Delaware River · Susquehanna River