Colorado, the "Centennial State," is often regarded as a perfect rectangle—a claim you might have heard or even seen on countless maps and globes. But here's where the story gets interesting: despite its clean, straight-looking borders, Colorado is anything but a perfect shape.
Believe It or Not!, the state's boundary actually has 697 sides! Technically speaking, that makes it a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon (yes, that’s a real word!)—a polygon with 697 sides .
So if you thought Colorado was just a boring rectangle, think again—it’s got hundreds of hidden edges!
For generations, Colorado has been branded as one of the few states with a simple, rectangular shape. The origins of that myth trace back to 1876, when the U.S. Congress defined Colorado’s borders using strict lines of latitude and longitude.
On paper, this seemed like a straightforward plan. The state’s western and eastern borders were drawn along the 102nd and 109th meridians , while the northern and southern edges followed the 41st and 37th parallels. From a bird's-eye view, it looked like a neat four-sided box, but that’s because surveyors working in the late 1800s used the tools available at the time—many of which were far from precise by today’s standards.
This clean-cut image stuck, and it’s easy to see why—most maps and globes reduce these lines into straight, clean shapes that make things look simple. The truth is that those lines aren't as straight as they seem because Earth isn't a perfect sphere—it's slightly squashed at the poles and wider at the equator, forming what's known as an oblate spheroid. This irregular shape means that lines that appear straight in theory, like the ones defining Colorado’s borders, become jagged and uneven when drawn across the Earth’s curved surface.
A fun example of this imprecision can be found at the famous Four Corners —the spot where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. While it’s celebrated as the only point in the U.S. where four states meet, the actual marker is slightly off due to survey miscalculations. So, even iconic landmarks aren’t immune to the complexities of mapping!
One of the best examples of Colorado’s irregular borders can be found along its western edge, which is shared with Utah. While this border was meant to run perfectly along the 109th meridian, it doesn’t quite align. Due to early surveying challenges and the inability to perfectly map meridians on a curved Earth, this line wobbles slightly, veering off the intended path. The deviations may seem small on a map, but they contribute to the state’s unusual 697-sided shape.
But the quirks don’t stop there. Colorado’s northern and southern borders also have their fair share of wiggles. The northern border, which runs along the 41st parallel, isn’t exactly straight either. Variations in the early survey measurements caused slight deviations, resulting in a line that bends and curves ever so slightly across the top of the state. Similar issues affected the southern border along the 37th parallel, creating more irregularities.
Despite advances in modern technology, these quirks remain part of Colorado’s history. Even with GPS mapping and satellite imagery, the original borders set by 19th-century surveyors still stand today—making Colorado a state where the lines on the map don’t quite match reality. It’s a reminder that sometimes, even the best-laid plans can take unexpected turns!
Is Colorado the only "rectangle" with quirks? Not quite! Colorado may be famous for its 697 sides, but it’s not the only state whose borders don’t match their clean, rectangular appearance.
Take Wyoming, for example. Often lumped together with Colorado as a "rectangular" state, Wyoming faces similar irregularities due to the Earth’s curvature. The 41st parallel that forms Wyoming's southern border suffers from the same geodetic distortions, and its western boundary doesn’t perfectly follow the intended meridian line either. It’s another "rectangle" that isn’t quite as rectangular as people think.
If you’re looking for truly bizarre borders, consider Michigan—a state made up of two disconnected peninsulas surrounded by the Great Lakes, with a border that’s all waves and curves. Or look at Hawaii, which is made up of a scattered chain of volcanic islands, each with their own distinct shape. These states remind us that borders can be anything but boring.
In terms of sheer oddity, Colorado’s 697 sides are unique for a landlocked state. Its jagged edges and hidden borders make it stand out, even among states with similarly complex boundaries.
Whether it’s Wyoming’s deceptive lines or Michigan’s island-spanning borders, Colorado sits in good company when it comes to states that challenge the way we think about shapes on a map.
You might be thinking, “So Colorado isn’t a rectangle—why should I care?” The fact is, these irregular borders can have real-life implications, especially when it comes to property lines and legal disputes.
Imagine purchasing a piece of land that’s supposedly sitting right on the state line—only to find out later that the line itself is subject to interpretation because of early surveying errors. These small border quirks can affect land ownership, tax jurisdiction, and even voting districts in some cases.
With 697 sides, Colorado is anything but ordinary. It’s full of hidden surprises, making it the perfect example of the unexpected wonders you’d expect to find at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Check out our Up Close & Peculiar episode on the Colorado Cannibal!
If you want to get up close with the Colorado Cannibal's mummified head, pop over to Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio to see the Colorado Cannibal yourself!
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