Idaho is one of the Rocky Mountains states of the United States of America. Idaho is a rugged state, with 10,000 - 12,500 ft snow-capped mountains, white water rivers (one running through the deepest river canyon in the U.S.), forests, high desert, and plenty of wilderness. Most of the land north of Boise is National or State Forest.
Idaho's nickname is "The Gem State," although the motto on the license plates is "Famous Potatoes,"
Idaho is typical of several other western states, e.g., Oregon, Washington, and California, in that there are really two states in one. The northern part of Idaho is characterized by mountains, lakes, forests and rivers. While the southern half has some spectacular mountains (the Owyhees and parts of the Tetons), it is mostly high-plains desert similar to the Inland Empire of southern California.
All of the potatoes are grown in southern Idaho in addition to irrigated crops primarily watered from the Snake River. Northern Idaho farming is characterized by dry land wheat, barley, and legume crops. Logging is also a big part of the northern Idaho economy, although not as much as in the past due to environmental activism. Similar to Washington and Oregon, there is a great disparity in the population of each half of the state. North Idaho is significantly less populated than the southern half.
South eastern Idaho, with its sparse topsoil, was greatly affected by the rising water level of prehistoric Lake Bonneville to the south, a lake which covered most of what is now the states of Utah and Nevada. At a point roughly near Twin Falls, the rising waters broke through into the region in an ancient, massive flood, channelling the flood water westward for what is estimated to have lasted for approximately seven weeks, almost completely draining the ancient lake and creating the massive, lengthy, and spectacular Snake River Canyon that we know today. The massive flood stripped the region's topsoil down to bedrock, tumbling huge, multi-story high boulders downstream, where eventually the boulders and other heavier materials dropped out and were deposited in and along the Snake River stream bed. The stripped topsoil, a much lighter material, eventually was deposited well to the west, creating fertile farming regions well adapted to growing potatoes.
North Idaho is forested and mountainous and sometimes considered part of the Pacific Northwest. It's where the rolling grain-covered hills of the Palouse give way to the Bitterroot (Rocky) Mountains. South Idaho is mountainous, with arid basins to the south where irrigated farming takes place. It is usually considered part of the Intermountain West, and is in the Mountain time zone. The state capitol, Boise, is in this region.
The following are the maim cities are all are good bases for outdoor activities within their regions.
-
Boise— Capitol and largest city in Idaho, some high technical employment
-
Coeur d'Alene— Northern Idaho city nestled by mountains and excellent recreational lakes
-
Idaho Falls— The commercial and agricultural centre of Eastern Idaho, home of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory
-
Moscow— Home of the University of Idaho, a combination of agricultural and college town
-
Shelley— Home of the Spud Day celebration
-
Buhl— Home of the Sage Brush Day's celebration, Snake River Canyon, and Balanced Rock.
Other tourist destinations include:
-
Sun Valley -- the first great ski resort in the U.S.
>-
Craters of the Moon National Monument -- volcanic park with vast fields of seemingly lifeless lava, fun lava tubes to explore
-
Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness -- follows the Snake River through Hells Canyon (as deep as 9,300 feet, much deeper than the Grand Canyon) north towards Lewiston, where the Clearwater and Snake River meet
-
Yellowstone National Park -- Second only to Yosemite as the most majestic National Park in the lower 48 states, but weirder, more colourful, and more spectacular, filled with hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles. Mostly within Wyoming, but the most notable feature, Old Faithful is probably most easily reached from Idaho Falls via West Yellowstone, Montana - though the park road is only open in summer (May to early November).
-
The Nez Perce Indian Reservation, home to Native Americans whose forebears helped Lewis and Clark through the winter during their expedition, is just East of Lewiston.
City of Rocks National Reserve -- Located on the southern edge of the state. Popular with hikers and rock climbers for its maze of massive boulders (some over 100 meters in height).
Text from Wikitravel Idaho where additional general information can be found. Please share your knowledge by editing the pages of Wikitravel.
|
