The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is famous for saying, “No man ever steps in the same river twice”—which, of course, means the universe is in a constant state of flux. It’s difficult to argue against the logician’s maxim while looking at the ever-evolving Colorado landscape. Whether the changes are a result of human develop- ment (such as the construction of wind turbines, solar gardens, and drilling towers) or come from Mother Nature (wildfires, beetle infestation, floods, and drought), these things continually shift the contours, alter the hues, and modify the textures of the Centennial State’s famous geography. Here, we take a 30,000-foot view of the unremit- ting changes affecting the land.

5280 December 2014
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—Map by Emily Cooper