Denver really is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. By an amazing stroke of good luck, one of the spots that is precisely one mile high is on the west steps of the State Capitol Building. In fact, there are two spots. When the capitol was constructed at the turn of the century, the city fathers carved "One Mile Above Sea Level" into the stone steps at what they thought was the correct place. However, in the 1960s some college students from Colorado State University re-measured the steps and found that the true mile high spot was a few steps higher. A brass marker was added at the actual spot. Because Denver became known as the Mile High City and because of its location near the Rockies, the city's strongest association has always been with mountains. Think Denver, think mountains. Actually, Denver is built on high plains and is one of the flattest of all American cities. First time visitors are often surprised to see that tree-filled Denver spreads out like a horizontal green oasis in the middle of the vast, treeless rolling plains that comprise the eastern third of Colorado. But the mountains are nearby, and their presence can be felt and seen on practically every street corner. The most visible peak from Denver is Mount Evans. At 14,260 feet in elevation, it is the highest peak along the eastern fringe of mountains (known locally as the Front Range) and it is one of 54 peaks in Colorado that soar to 14,000 feet or above. Two other Fourteeners can be seen clearly from Denver on most days: Pikes Peak, located 60 miles to the south, and Long's Peak, located 50 miles to the northwest. There are over one thousand peaks in Colorado that are at least two miles high. Between Longs Peak and Pikes Peak, there are dozens of snowcapped summits easily visible from Denver. Metal plaques on the open air rotunda of the Capitol building identify and name each of the visible peaks. This panorama from the Rotunda is one of the most gorgeous views in the city and it is against state law to build any structure that would block the view of the mountains from this observation point.

Life a Mile Above Sea Level Being a mile above sea level does present some differences in day-to-day life. For one thing, the sky really is bluer due to less pollution and water vapor in the upper atmosphere. Baseballs, golf balls and footballs travel 9 percent farther. Special high altitude tennis balls have to be made using toned-down rubber and less pressure and basketballs are inflated with 7-10 pounds less air than at sea level.

In Denver, water boils at 202 degrees instead of 212 degrees, and it takes four minutes to soft boil a three-minute egg and 17 minutes to hard boil an egg -- five more than at the beach. Baking in Colorado is an adventure and requires experimentation with different recipes, generally using less yeast and baking powder. Denver will never replace Seattle as a coffee center because it is hard to brew a perfect cup of coffee a mile above sea level. Coffee experts say that when Denver's water boils at 202 degrees, the temperature is too low to extract top flavor from coffee beans. But high altitude is excellent for beer, causing it to have more fizz and carbonation. However, be careful opening champagne bottles. Most of them are bottled at sea level and the change in pressure in Denver's light air causes the cork to fly out much quicker. In fact, be careful drinking any alcohol for the first couple of days. Since the lungs have to work harder to get oxygen into the blood in high altitudes, alcohol is absorbed into the blood system quicker, speeding up the effect that a couple of drinks would normally have. The bottom line -- two or three drinks in Denver will pack more of a wallop than at sea level. Some people experience a little shortness of breath in Denver, but generally you have to be much higher (9,000 feet and above) to feel this effect. Even when felt, the body adjusts after a day or two. Cars made before 1987 and driven from sea level might not calculate the right air to fuel mixture and might run a little rough, but newer cars with fuel injection systems will not notice any difference at high altitude. Strangely enough, winters feel much warmer in Colorado because high altitude means there are fewer air molecules pressing against your skin. Also, the low humidity in Denver produces a "dry cold" that most people find less penetrating than a "wet cold" at sea level. Perhaps the most serious consideration in high altitude is ensuring proper sun protection. Mile high Denver receives 24% more ultraviolet radiation than sea level cities. The air above the mountain resorts has only half the protection from the sun's harmful rays that can be found at sea level. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.

Tips for High Altitude Living in Denver

1. Don't overdo exercise the first day or two. Let your body adjust. 2. Use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15. 3. Drink more liquids than you would at sea level. Denver is very dry and it's easy to become dehydrated. 4. Drink less alcohol and consume less rich foods. 5. Be prepared for the most beautiful sunsets. The high altitude and spectacular natural location give Denver some of the most gorgeous sunsets on earth.

###

Media Contact: Jill Strunk +1 (303) 571-9451 jstrunk@dmcvb.org