Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/316680
12 The Denver Zoo participates in a number of conservation programs designed to ensure the long-term survival of rare and endangered species worldwide and is home to over 4,000 animals. The Tropical Discovery exhibit features a diversity of animal and plant life in its tropical rain forest environment. It includes a mountain cave, tropical streams and waterfalls, temple ruins, a jungle river, swamps, and an offshore coral reef. The Downtown Aquarium, a world-class facility, is located in Denver's Central Platte Valley. This unique tourist attraction immerses visitors in the wonders of water on two journeys—from the Continental Divide in Colorado to Mexico's Sea of Cortez and from an Indonesian rain forest to the Pacific Ocean. Its mission is to create experiences that inspire its guests to discover, explore, enjoy, and protect our aquatic world. Among Denver's professional sports teams are the 1998/99 NFL Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, the NBA Denver Nuggets, the MLB Colorado Rockies, the 2001 NHL Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche, the NSL Colorado Rapids, and the NLL Colorado Mammoth. Area Educational Institutions Opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education are numerous. The University of Denver campus is approximately six miles north and east of the Seminary. Colorado Christian University is located in Lakewood, approximately one-half hour from the Seminary. Downtown, the Auraria campus houses the Metropolitan State College, Denver Community College, and the Denver campus of the University of Colorado. The main campus for the University of Colorado in Boulder is an hour away and Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley are less than two hours away from the Seminary. Outside Denver Denver serves as the gateway to the magnificent Rocky Mountains. West of the city, more than fifty peaks rise over 14,000 feet into the sky. Skiing, hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting are little more than an hour's drive from the Seminary campus. The twenty-seven mountain parks maintained by the city of Denver include some of the most scenic areas of the Colorado Rockies. For the more adventuresome, white-water rafting on the Arkansas River is only two hours away. Various companies offer quarter-, half-, whole- or two-day trips down rapids of varying difficulty. Some companies also offer rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking, and mountain biking. Southern Colorado Colorado Springs is home to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Museum of the American Cowboy. Two multimedia presentations document the sport's evolution. Heritage Hall contains exhibits of historic and modern cowboy and rodeo gear and the Hall of Champions honors athletes from each rodeo event. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge. The bridge spans nearly a quarter mile offering a spectacular view of the Arkansas River over a thousand feet below. The thirty-five-passenger aerial tram gives a view of the entire canyon. The world's steepest incline railway goes to the bottom of the Royal Gorge. Seven Falls offers the sight of water cascading 300 feet down a sheer granite cliff. An express elevator travels to the Eagle's Nest Platform for a magnificent view of Seven Falls. The Anasazi Indian culture is kept alive through the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. This village was built into a cliff side and explores the culture, architecture, and artifacts of these Southwest Indians. Native American dancing is performed daily during the summer months.