Montana

The western one-third of the state is primarily mountainous terrain, while the eastern two-third is part of the northern Great Plains.:This article is about the state. For other meanings, see Montana (disambiguation).

Geography

Main articles: List of Montana counties, List of Montana rivers

Related Topics:
List of Montana counties - List of Montana rivers

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Montana and Canada share a 545 mile (877 km) northern border. The state borders the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. This area is often called the "High Line." To the east is the border with North Dakota; to the southeast is a short border with South Dakota. In the south is the Wyoming border, and on the west and southwest is the Idaho border.

Related Topics:
Canada - Northern border - Canadian provinces - British Columbia - Alberta - Saskatchewan - North Dakota - South Dakota - Wyoming - Idaho

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With a land area of 145,552 square miles (376,978 km²), the state of Montana is the fourth largest in the United States (after Alaska, Texas, and California). Major rivers in the state include the Missouri, Clark Fork of the Columbia, Milk, Flathead, and Yellowstone. Montana is also one of many areas to claim the disputed title of "world's shortest river" (the Roe River).

Related Topics:
Alaska - Texas - California - River - Missouri - Clark Fork of the Columbia - Milk - Flathead - Yellowstone - Roe River

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Montana contains Glacier National Park and portions of Yellowstone National Park. Other sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area, Big Hole National Battlefield, and the National Bison Range. There are also a number of National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. The Federal government administers 36,000,000 acres (146,000 km²). 275,000 acres (1100 km²) are administered as state parks and forests.

Related Topics:
Glacier National Park - Yellowstone National Park - Little Bighorn National Monument - Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area - Big Hole National Battlefield - National Bison Range - National Forest - National Wildlife Refuge - State park

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The surface of the state is highly diverse. In the west it is extremely mountainous. The Bitterroot Mountains form part of the western boundary line, and east of this the main chain of the Rocky Mountains cross the state. Between these ranges is a great basin, forming one-fifth of the entire area. East of the Rocky Mountains is a rolling tableland, part of the Great Plains, which extend into the Dakotas.

Related Topics:
Bitterroot Mountains - Rocky Mountains

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On the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains lies the Sun River Valley (west of Great Falls). Three stately buttes are familiar landmarks. These buttes, Square Butte, Shaw Butte, and Crown Butte, are made of igneous rock, which is dense and has withstood weathering for many years. The underlying surface consists of shale. Many areas around these buttes are covered with clay surface soils. These soils have been derived from the weathering of the Colorado Formation.

Related Topics:
Rocky Mountains - Great Falls - Igneous rock - Shale - Colorado Formation

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In the south near the Yellowstone River the mountains reach an altitude of over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) and the peaks are perpetually covered with snow. Besides the prominent mountain ranges there are many spurs, detached ridges, and smooth, sloping buttes. The mountains are intersected by numerous valleys and canyons, through which flow several beautiful rivers. The highest point in the state, Granite Peak, is 12,799 feet (3,901 m) high.

Related Topics:
Yellowstone River - Granite Peak

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The principal river systems in Montana are the Clark Fork of the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Yellowstone. The Clark Fork of the Missouri (not to be confused with the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River) rises in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, and after flowing west turns north and forms portion of the Idaho boundary. The Missouri river, formed by the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers crosses the central part of the state, flows through the Missouri breaks and later enters North Dakota. The Yellowstone, a tributary of the Missouri, rises in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, flows northeast across the state through canyons and gorges, and enters the Missouri River a few miles east of the North Dakota boundary.

Related Topics:
Clark Fork of the Columbia - Missouri - Yellowstone - Clarks Fork - Idaho - Jefferson - Madison - Gallatin - Missouri breaks - North Dakota - Wyoming

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Vegetation of the area includes pine, larch, fir, spruce, aspen, birch, redcedar, ash, and alder trees. Additionally, flowers native to Montana include asters, bitterroots, daisies, lupins, poppies, primroses, columbine, lilies and dryads. Sagebrush and various species of grass are common plants in the region, and forests cover 1/4 of the state.

Related Topics:
Pine - Larch - Fir - Spruce - Aspen - Birch - Redcedar - Ash - Alder - Asters - Bitterroot - Daisies - Lupin - Poppies - Primrose - Columbine - Lilies - Dryads - Sagebrush

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