Lifeline of the American Southwest: The Story of the Colorado River

High in the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, tiny trickles of melting snow gather to form a stream. This cold, bubbling creek begins a remarkable journey of roughly 1,450 miles across the American Southwest. As it flows, it grows into the mighty Colorado River, one of the most famous and hardworking waterways in North America. Along its path through seven U.S. states and into Mexico, the river carves stunning landscapes, supports unique wildlife, and provides vital resources for millions of people.

As the Colorado River travels southwest across the Colorado Plateau, it demonstrates the incredible power of water. Over millions of years, the river and natural erosion carved through deep layers of rock, creating the world-famous Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. In some places, the canyon plunges more than a mile deep and stretches up to eighteen miles wide. The exposed rock walls reveal colorful bands of red sandstone, gray limestone, and dark shale, showing a visual history of Earth’s geological past. Here, the rushing river acts like a giant chisel, constantly shaping the dramatic landscape.