One of the largest physical geographic features in the United States is the Colorado River. Human activity and its interaction with this great river has an interesting history. The resources provided by the river have been used by humans and have caused conflicts for human populations as well. One such conflict concerns the distribution of water and the effects that drought conditions have had on this distribution across the southwestern region. Major cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego and other communities in the Southwest depend on the river. It provides water to more than 20 million people, irrigation for 2 million acres of land, four thousand megawatts of hydroelectric power, and more than twenty million annual recreational visitors. Additionally, once in Mexico, the river provides water to irrigate half a million acres of agricultural land and municipal and industrial water for 2 million people living in this delta region. The river also distributes its flow from lakes and canals along its path. Due to climate change, human demand, natural forces such as evaporation, and human-induced climate change, this water supply is in conflict. Additionally, a recent change that began in March 2014 will bring a temporary increase in water to the Colorado River Delta for the first time in many years to help restore this region, and it is possible it could reach the Sea of ​​Cortez again. The Colorado River is a very large river encompassing a 246,000-square-mile river basin region in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico (Shannon, 2014). It runs a total of 1,450 miles and crosses many land borders starting with Colorado where it originates. This origin is found in Rocky Mountain National Park in...... center of map ......and Drying of the American Southwest | Center for Immigration Studies." Center for Immigration Studies. Web. "Geography of the Colorado River." About.com Geography. Web. April 2014. MacDonald, Glen. "Water, Climate Change, and Sustainability in the South West." Water, Climate Change and Sustainability in the Southwest." , Climate change and sustainability in the South West. “Water shortages in the Southwest could trigger cuts and influential flows.” April 2014. Wescoat, Jr. James L. “Economic Development.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. “Colorado River Drain Forces First-Ever Cuts in Lake Powell Water Releases.” Overuse." National Geographic."What is the continental divide?" What is the continental divide? Apr. 2014.