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Photography Courtesy of Durango Tourism Board- Robert Royem©
Written By PHIL LAURO
Located 6,512 feet above sea level in the transition zone between
mountains and high desert, Durango is blessed with a wonderfully
temperate climate and an incredible variety of spectacular natural
beauty.
Because of its world-class reputation as a must-see destination,
Durango is able to offer amenities that belie its size. Activities
available range from leisurely, self-guided walking tours of Durango's
historic districts to all-out, stump-jumpin', mountain bike singletracks.
River rafting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, camping and four-wheeling
are only a few of the summer activities to choose from.
Wintertime brings alpine and cross-country skiing at Durango Mountain
Resort as well as snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sleigh rides. For
the less adventurous, Durango has museums, numerous art galleries
and shopping in its historic downtown district. The Durango Arts
Center showcases the community's commitment to the arts with
a variety of showings in every medium, as well as musical and dramatic
performances.
The Durango area is in close proximity to world-renowned Mesa Verde
National Park, home of the ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings. Only
a 45-mile drive west of Durango, Mesa Verde is designated as a World
Class Cultural Heritage Site by the United Nations and rated the
"Number One Historical Hot Spot" by Historic Traveler
Magazine. Of course, no visit to Durango would be complete without
a ride on the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The D&SNGRR provides year-round train service, carrying passengers
to the historic mining town of Silverton in the summer and to Cascade
Canyon in the winter. Durango really does have it all.
LOCAL STATISTICS:
| Location: |
108 miles south of Montrose on
Highway 550 |
| Population: |
15,490 |
| Average
Home Price: |
$295,041 |
| Average
Rental: |
$800 |
| Median
Age: |
35.6 |
| Average
Household Income: |
$49,000 |
| Elevation: |
6,512 Ft. |
| Median
Temperatures: |
Summer:
83/67F Winter: 45/25F |
| Days
of Sunshine per year: |
300 |
| Average
Annual Snowfall: |
68
in. |
| Founded:
|
1881 |
| Industry:
|
Tourism/Wholesale/Retail
Trade |
| La`Plata
County Population: |
43,941 |
| College: |
Fort
Lewis College |
Visitor's Services:
Durango Area Tourism Office
111 S. Camino del Rio | P.O. Box 2321
Durango, CO 81302
(970) 247-3500/ (800) 463-8726
Email: marketing@durango.org
Website: www.durango.org
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