Wyoming Geography
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Imagine you are in a plane as it flies across the sky; you see off in the distance a majestic mountain. Many states have flat plains and beautiful mountains but no state has mountains as magnificent as Wyoming. With harsh winters, mild summers, and little precipitation, Wyoming has little trees and is very dry. With all the dry land it is great for farming and ranching. Wyoming is a beautiful place to live.
Basic Facts
Wyoming is located in the western region of the United States. There are six bordering states. Two of these states are located south of Wyoming: Utah and Colorado. There are two east of Wyoming. These states are Nebraska and South Dakota. To the west of Wyoming sits the state of Idaho, and to the north one will find Montana. Wyoming is a big state. It covers 97,812 square miles, making it the 10th largest state.
Wyoming's climate type is continental. The average July temperature is 69°F. The average January temperature is 29°F. The highest temperature ever recorded is 115°F Diversion Dam July 15, 1988. The lowest temperature ever recorded is -66 Fahrenheit Yellowstone National Park on February 9, 1933. The yearly precipitation is 16 inches. Summers are mostly cool but can be very hot in the lower elevations. Winters are very cold and they get a lot of snow. In the winter there can be blizzards and in the spring floods.
Yellowstone region
Wyoming has four land regions. One of them is the Yellowstone Region.Yellowstone Region is located in the northwestern corner of Wyoming Yellowstone Region and is very unique. Yellowstone National Park makes up most of the region. Much of Yellowstone sits on the top of an active volcano that last erupted more than 600,000 years ago. There are high waterfalls, deep canyons, and many geothermal places. Geysers are spouting areas of water also caused by the water getting hot because of the molten rock just below the surface. One of the most famous geysers is Old Faithful. Half of all the geysers in the world are located in Yellowstone. Mud pots are boiling mud made by the molten rock just below the surface heating the mud. The Yellowstone region is a very unique area in the United States.
Great Plains
The second region is the Great Plains. The Great Plain regions are grasslands that are high and dry. The average elevation is 5,000 to 6,000 ft. The land is used for cattle and sheep ranching. Most of Wyoming’s farms are in this area. Farmers have to use irrigation to water crops here since it is dry. The central part of the plains consists of rolling prairies and stretches of sand. The Black Hills are to the northeast, the Big Horn mountains to the west and the Platte Valley to the south. The Great Plains regions grassy and for farming.
Wyoming basin
The third area is the Wyoming Basin. The basin is made up of three major basins. The Big Horn Basin comes from the Big Horn River and this water makes it possible for farmers to grow crops. The Green River basin has many tree lined streams which is one of the best farming areas in Wyoming. The Great Divide Basin sits at a higher elevation than the other two basins. It lacks water and it is difficult to grow crops here. It is so dry here that most rain and snow evaporates before it reaches the ground. The Great Divideasin is part of the Red Desert that is one of the coldest deserts in the United States. The Killpecker sand dunes are up to 150 ft high and are located in the Red Desert. The Wyoming Basin area is made up of many beautiful basins.
Conclusion
When one considers the beautiful flat plains it is clear that Wyoming is an alluring land that anyone would be lucky to live in or visit. If you are able to visit the dry ranches you are luckie to speed your vacation in Wyoming. Like most of the 50 states, Wyoming has many stunning mountains that most people don’t get to see because they are stuck at home. "In Wyoming, the beauty of our mountains is only matched by the grit of our people."- Liz Cheney
