There are still many regions in Idaho that are not yet sprawled. Here you can enjoy nature in all its beauty. The landscape in Idaho is largely mountainous due to the Rocky Mountains. So you can always find opportunities for climbing and hiking. Sporty people are sure to get their money’s worth in Idaho.
A highlight in Idaho is the Shoshone Falls, a large waterfall that is higher than Niagara Falls. Various lakes spread across the state of Idaho are also very interesting. The Yellowstone National Park and the Hells Canyon are of course very worth seeing in Idaho. The City of Rocks, Museums with different specialties and two national monuments complete the range of attractions in Idaho. In addition, the various cities in Idaho offer opportunities for shopping and also have their own attractions (especially from the fields of architecture and history).
Idaho key facts
Land area: 216,632 sq km (ranked 14th of all US states)
Share of water surface: 0.98%
Population: 1.524 million (2008 estimate, 39th of all states in the United States)
Population density: 7 people per square kilometer (44th place of all states in the USA)
Member of the United States since: July 3, 1890
Capital: Bois (202,832 residents, 2007,Metropolitan area 587,689 residents)
Largest city: Bois
Highest point: 3,862 m, Borah Peak
Lowest point: 217 m, Snake River
Governor: C.L. “Butch” Otter (Republikaner)
Lieut. Governor: Brad Little (Republikaner)
Local time: CET -8 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -7 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -8 h in both winter and summer.
Postal abbreviation: ID
Idaho Geography and Map
According to ehotelat, the state of Idaho is located in the northwest of the USA and is also known as the Gem State. The capital is Boise. The state extends from east to west over a width of 491 kilometers. The north-south extension is 771 kilometers.
The Idaho area covers an area of 216,632 square kilometers. This puts Idaho in 14th place in a size comparison with the other states. About 47 percent of the area is forested and around one percent of the state is covered by water. On average, the Idaho area is 1,524 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in the state is Borah Peak, which is 3,862 meters high. The lowest point is 216 meters above sea level on the Snake River.
Idaho borders the Canadian province of British Columbia to the northeast and Montana to the north and northwest. The neighboring state to the east is Wyoming. To the south are Utah and Nevada. Finally, to the west, Idaho borders Oregon and Washington.
The largest rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. The 1,674-kilometer-long Snake River is a tributary of the Columbia River. Its source is in Yellowstone National Park. In its course it forms several reservoirs, such as the American Falls Reservoir, as well as the 70 meter high Shoshone Falls, which are known as Niagara of the West.
The Clearwater River runs in north Idaho over a length of 305 kilometers and finally flows into the Snake River. The 684-kilometer Salmon River flows through central Idaho. In 1860 gold was found on its banks, which subsequently attracted many gold prospectors. Today you can see numerous abandoned mines along the river.
Idaho also has a number of lakes, including Coeur d’Alene Lake. The lake in northern Idaho is about 30 miles long and up to three miles wide. While it was mainly used by the timber industry to transport timber at the beginning of the 20th century, it now attracts numerous anglers and paddling enthusiasts. Other lakes are Payette Lake, Pend O’Reille, Priest Lake and Redfish Lake.
The landscape of Idaho is mountainous and mainly comprise Rockies coined. The huge folds of mountains stretches from Mexico to Canada and Alaskaover a length of about 5,000 kilometers and a width of up to 600 kilometers in some cases. On average, the mountain ranges are between 2,000 and 3,000 meters high. The highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains is 6,194 meter high Mount McKinley in Alaska, followed by 5,959 meter high Mount Logan in Canada. The third highest mountain, the 4,402 meter high Mount Elbert, is located in Colorado. There are numerous national parks in the Rocky Mountains, including Yellowstone National Park. They also hold a diverse wealth of natural resources.
Idaho is one of the so-called Mountain States, the US states through which the Rocky Mountains run. This region also includes Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Montana.
The south of the state is shaped by the Snake River Plain, through which the eponymous river runs. The elongated plain with its volcanic formations extends over the entire width of the state and is its economic center. In addition to the capital, seven of the ten largest cities in the state are located there.
