Gulf of Colorado

[AirshipArmada]

Two ASB were in the lab looking at Earth on the monitors. They were hopping from TL to TL, around 1500 AD, focusing on North America.
ASB 1 was working the controls and was visibly bored.
ASB 2 said, "It's always the same, Spain starts off looking good but England wins in the end."
ASB 1 just nodded. He flipped to a couple of other TL and then got an evil twinkle in most of his eyes. "Let's have some fun", he said.
ASB 2 looked doubtful: "Remember what happened last time?"
ASB 1: "Yeah, I remember; we had some fun."
Without another word he worked more controls. He removed much of the Rocky mountains and surrounding area. One of his talons slipped, hit a dial, and a few other areas vanished as well.
ASB 2: "Hey! You're gonna get us in trouble!"
ASB 1: "Oh, don't worry. I adjusted it so the Earth has the right amount of water so sea levels won't change elsewhere."
ASB 2: "But . . ."
ASB 1: "And I moved the humans in the area to the new shoreline. Most the animals too. Hardly anyone got hurt. Besides, it all used to be sea bottom anyway."
ASB 2: "Well . . . I don't know."
ASB 1: "Hey. It's done already. Let's watch."
They looked at the world for a little bit.
ASB 2: "You gonna name it something?"
ASB 1: "How about the Gulf of Colorado."
ASB 2: "It's going to mess up the weather. Might mess up some jet streams too. Hey, it will probably . . ."
ASB Dad walks in: "Hi, What you boys doing?"
ASB 1 quickly turns off the monitors. ASB 1 & 2 both say in unison: "Nothing."

http://amateurgeek.com/AltHist/Images/GulfOfColorado.jpg

[oscarzoalaster]

[snip] the Gulf of Colorado [snip]

http://amateurgeek.com/AltHist/Images/GulfOfColorado.jpg


Having it appear in 1500ce impedes some of the more interesting stories. If it was part of how North America 'had always been' there would probably be some tribes with a maritime tradition in the area. Additionally, the entire western half of North America would be a lot better watered, the Great Plains would probably be some of the best farmland in the world - without irrigation. And the Spanish would get there first. The peninsula between the two arms of the Gulf of Colorado will be very well-wooded, one of the great lumbering regions of the world.... And the Spanish will be there first.

[AirshipArmada]

Having it appear in 1500ce impedes some of the more interesting stories. If it was part of how North America 'had always been' there would probably be some tribes with a maritime tradition in the area.
Why? The Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico had always been there OTL.

Additionally, the entire western half of North America would be a lot better watered, the Great Plains would probably be some of the best farmland in the world - without irrigation. And the Spanish would get there first. The peninsula between the two arms of the Gulf of Colorado will be very well-wooded, one of the great lumbering regions of the world.... And the Spanish will be there first.

When would the Spanish get to the Gulf of Colorado? Not before 1540. They wouldn't be able to exploit things until the 16 hundreds. Might be some gold and silver deposits exposed the the Rocky Mountains that could interest the Spanish.

Might go like this: English get from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. French get from the Mississippi to the Gulf of Colorado. Spanish get from the Gulf to the Pacific. The Gulf and the Rockies would keep that are Spanish (or Mexican).

[oscarzoalaster]

Quote:
Originally Posted by oscarzoalaster http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=1891127#post1891127)
"Having it appear in 1500ce impedes some of the more interesting stories. If it was part of how North America 'had always been' there would probably be some tribes with a maritime tradition in the area."

Why? The Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico had always been there OTL.


The increased coastline and nearby islands provide additional opportunities to take to the sea. Additionally there is a good chance the Gulf of Colorado is a fairly shallow sea, and hence very very productive.



Quote:
"Additionally, the entire western half of North America would be a lot better watered, the Great Plains would probably be some of the best farmland in the world - without irrigation. And the Spanish would get there first. The peninsula between the two arms of the Gulf of Colorado will be very well-wooded, one of the great lumbering regions of the world.... And the Spanish will be there first."
When would the Spanish get to the Gulf of Colorado? Not before 1540.


They would be exploring the Gulf of Colorado along with circumnavigating the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. There would be Spanish ships in the Gulf of Colorado in the early 1500's.



They wouldn't be able to exploit things until the 16 hundreds.


Why not? I can't think of anything that would impede them. They would be able to sail right up to some of the best farmland on the planet....



Might be some gold and silver deposits exposed the the Rocky Mountains that could interest the Spanish.


There might be, but the farmland would interest them even more. An opportunity early on for there to be a Spanish settler colony, which would completely change the dynamics and provide the conquistadors with an alternate home to 'return' to.



Might go like this: English get from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. French get from the Mississippi to the Gulf of Colorado. Spanish get from the Gulf to the Pacific. The Gulf and the Rockies would keep that are Spanish (or Mexican).


Maybe, but the best farmland - which the Spanish will be in a position to grab - is to the east. I think it is likely to be Spanish east to the Mississippi, and also west to the Pacific. But, there can be a lot of twists and turns as history evolves.