According to abbreviationfinder, Iowa is located in the western heart of the United States, between Minnesota (north), South Dakota and Nebraska (west), Wisconsin and Illinois (east), and Missouri (south). The state is divided into ten regions, namely Northwest, North Central, North East, West Central, Southwest, South Central, East, East Central, Southeast, and Central.
The Hawkeye State has a (humid) continental climate, with a wet spring, very warm summer and snowy winter. Temperatures vary extremely, from -5°C in winter to 30°C in summer. Annually there is an average of about 88 cm of precipitation, much of which in the form of snow.
Best travel time
The oppressively hot and humid summer and harsh winter are best avoided. The months of April, May and June are dominated by emerging blossoms and grain. Late summer and early fall are the best time to travel to this state in terms of nature.
Flora in fauna
Iowa’s eastern border is defined by the Mississippi River, while the western state border is formed by the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. A number of (artificial) lakes also regularly break through the landscape of gently sloping fields: Spirit Lake and West and East Okoboij Lake are located in northwest Iowa, for example. Most of Iowa’s loess soil is cultivated, but between the rows of swaying grain there are always unusual wildflowers to be found. The fertile soil mainly produces soybeans, maize, hay and oats, which, in addition to pig farming, are the main source of income for this moderately interesting state. Along the Mississippi, the landscape differs slightly from the rest of the region; here rise low, rugged hills covered with conifers. Common animals here are red and gray foxes, raccoons, badgers, marmots, muskrats, deer and flying squirrels. For fishing enthusiasts, Iowa is surprisingly attractive with as many as 140 species in its waters, such as rainbow trout, walleye and black bass. Extremely rare animal species also live here. The ermine, Indiana bat, bald eagle, gray wolf and the Iowa Pleistocene snail, among others, are closely monitored.
Main cities
According to countryaah, Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. In addition, larger cities such as Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Davenport are worth mentioning.
Amana Colonies
Oktoberfest in the middle of America? The seven authentic German villages of the Amana Colonies were founded about 150 years ago as a religious refuge. Today, old crafts and folk dances reign supreme here.
Herbert Hoover
The 31st President of the United States was a controversial man; on the one hand, he was held responsible for the depression years of the 1930s, but many people forget that he managed to feed about 1 billion people during and after the First World War. He was born in West Branch, and the Presidential Library is dedicated to him. A fascinating place to learn more about ‘the great Humanitarian’.
Fort Des Moines
In 1917, 639 captains and lieutenants dropped out of America’s first black officer school to serve in World War I. With this Historic Site, the memory of their heroic pioneering work is kept alive.
