The jagged peaks, the astonishing climate, the intriguing land regions, and some of our nation's most unusual land forms will book anyone a trip to Montana. If someone wants to live in Montana, he or she needs to be up for adventure and be a good explorer. Montana can be difficult to live in due to hot summers and cold winters. This means the state has a small population, but it is a guarantee that anyone will love the Rocky Mountains and the beauty of the Great Plains.
Montana
Geography
Basic Facts
Montana is a large state but has a small population. This western state is 44th ranked in population compared to other states with only 989,415 people living in the state. Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota are all bordering states of Montana. Canada borders this state from the north. Montana covers 147,042 square miles making it the fourth largest state. Helena is the state capital of Montana and is located in the Rocky Mountain region to the west of the center of the state. Helena has a tiny population of only 28,190 people. Billings is a large city located in the Great Plains region with a population of 104,170 citizens. Located in the eastern part of the state, Missoula has 66,788 residents.
Climate
Montana has warm summers and cold, long winters. The state’s record high temperature is 117 degrees Fahrenheit recorded at Glendive on July 20, 1893; negative seventy, recorded at Rogers Pass on January 20, 1954, is the record low temperature. Montana receives more snow every year than they do rain. The average amount of snow per year is fifteen inches, but the Rocky Mountains can encounter up to 300 inches of snow every year. The state receives eleven inches of rain each year. The mountains are wetter and it is dryer in the Great Plains. The average temperature in July is sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, and the state averages eighteen degrees Fahrenheit in January. Since Montana is such a large state and has differences in elevation, the climate tends to vary.
Land Regions
Montana has two main regions. One of these regions is the Rocky Mountain region. The Rocky Mountain region has unusual beauty with flat, grassy floors on the valleys and mountains that are forested with fir, pine, spruce, and other evergreens. This region tends to be wetter and warmer than the Great Plains. The Rocky Mountains run 3,000 miles from northern New Mexico to Alaska. There are more than fifty individual mountain ranges in Montana with peaks that are covered with snow eight to ten months a year. Southwestern valleys may extend from thirty to forty miles between mountain ranges while northwestern valleys are more narrow and typically only extend from one to five miles wide. The Rocky Mountain Region is smaller than The Great Plains and only covers about one third of the state.
The Great Plains take up a majority of the state covering about two thirds of Montana. Wind and weather have created badland areas of gullies and columns of red, yellow, brown, and white stone. This region is made of flatlands, rolling hills and small mountain ranges. Some of the land is broken up by groups of mountains that rise sharply from the plains. Some of these mountain ranges include Bears Paw, Big Snowy, Judith, and the Little Rocky Mountains. The Great Plains extend all the way from Canada to Mexico.
Montana has warm summers and cold, long winters. The state’s record high temperature is 117 degrees Fahrenheit recorded at Glendive on July 20, 1893; negative seventy, recorded at Rogers Pass on January 20, 1954, is the record low temperature. Montana receives more snow every year than they do rain. The average amount of snow per year is fifteen inches, but the Rocky Mountains can encounter up to 300 inches of snow every year. The state receives eleven inches of rain each year. The mountains are wetter and it is dryer in the Great Plains. The average temperature in July is sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, and the state averages eighteen degrees Fahrenheit in January. Since Montana is such a large state and has differences in elevation, the climate tends to vary.
Land Forms
Montana is a state that is known for its mountain ranges. This state’s highest peak is Granite Peak reaching a soaring height of 12,799 feet. This peak is one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the fifty states. Granite Peak is located in the Rocky Mountain region in the western part of the state. Granite Peak is very true to its name being a large mass of granite. The Gallatin Mountain Range is a main range and runs seventy-five miles from Bozeman Montana into Wyoming. Part of The Gallatin is located in Yellowstone National Park. Other major mountain ranges are the Absaroka, Beaverhead, Bitterroot, Beartooth, and Little Belt ranges.
Montana is the only state in which rivers drain into the Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay, and Pacific Ocean. The Missouri and Yellowstone River are the largest rivers in the state draining six sevenths of the states water. The Missouri River is 2,540 miles long running through the Great Plains region in Montana. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Yellowstone River runs 671 miles. The Continental Divide runs through the Rocky Mountain Region and is a height of land that separates the westward flowing and eastward flowing waters. Running 350 miles along the western border of Montana, lies the Clark Fork River. Running only ninety-seven miles, the Bitterroot River is a smaller river located in the Rocky Mountain Region. The Gallatin River flows 120 miles toward the bottom of the state. Lastly, located in the southwestern part of the state, Big Hole River runs 188 miles long. Montana has quite a few rivers and these are just some of the main ones.
Montana has quite a few major lakes. Fort Peck Dam is one of the largest earth-filled dams in the country. Fort Peck Lake covers 383 square miles making it the largest man-made lake in Montana. Not only is it the largest man-made lake in the state, it is also the largest lake in Montana. Canyon Ferry Lake is another major lake extending twenty-seven miles. Hungry Horse Lake has a dam that is the tenth highest dam in the United States. McDonald Lake is ten miles long and 472 feet deep and one of Glacier National Park’s largest lakes. The largest natural lake in Montana is Flathead Lake which is fifteen miles wide and 220 feet deep. Although these are just a few lakes, Montana has more smaller lakes within the state as well.
Montana has only one national park. Glacier National Park, located in the Rocky Mountain Region, has over fifty glaciers in the park. This park gets an average of 138 inches per year. Mountain goats are Glacier National Park’s symbol; the animals are still there from when the Europeans discovered the area. The workers have done a good job of keeping the animals safe. This park covers 1,500 square miles. Glacier National Park has an uncommon history of wildfires. Located in the southwestern part of the state lies Yellowstone National Park. Most of the park is in Wyoming; however, three percent of Yellowstone is located in Montana.This national park is bigger than two US states. Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park.
Conclusion
Montana is a gorgeous state with a national park, man-made lakes and natural lakes, long rivers, and fascinating mountains. The climate differs from region to region and has many unique landforms.This state will blow anyone’s mind away. So, come visit Montana today!