The boiling point of water at sea level is 212° Fahrenheit. The boiling point drops about one degree for every 500-foot (152-meter) increase in altitude. Therefore, in Denver, at 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) above sea level (Denver is called the Mile High city because there are 5,280 feet in a mile), water boils at about 202°. The change in the boiling point is why cooking instructions are modified for higher altitudes.