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Idaho borders the states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The landscape is rugged with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the United States. It is a Rocky Mountain state with abundant natural resources and scenic areas. The state has snow-capped mountain ranges, rapids, placid lakes and steep canyons. The waters of the Snake River rush through Hells Canyon, deeper than the Grand Canyon. Shoshone Falls plunges down rugged cliffs from a height greater than that of Niagara Falls. The Owyhee Canyonlands are one of the largest intact and unprotected desert ecosystems in the American West. Nickname: the Gem State,~ State bird: Mountain Bluebird ~ State flower: Syringa ~ Capital: Boise, Date of admission to the Union: July 3 1890. The contrasting terrain of Idaho includes Hells Canyon National Recreational Area, the deepest river gorge in North America and home to the Snake, Salmon and Rapid rivers; Clearwater National Forest; and two of the finest big-game hunting areas in the USA – Chamberlain Basin and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The State capital, Boise, comes to life during the summer months with a lively festival and the Western Idaho Fair in August. It is also home to the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area; the Basque Museum & Cultural Center and the Boise Art Museum. Attractions to the southeast include the massive Shoshone Falls; the Shoshone Indian Ice Caves; and historic Fort Hall.The upmarket Sun Valley resort area in the centre of the State offers skiing and wintersports, as well as a range of summer activities. In the nearby hills is a wide choice of hot springs, including the Warfield Hot Spring and Russian John Hot Spring. The Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is a huge lava field with a maze of tunnels and caves. There are plenty of campsites available nearby. Sawtooth National Recreation Area is home to the Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains and the Smokey and Boulder ranges. Further north, the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway offers travellers a chance to trace the Corps of Discovery expedition route along the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers, in the land of the Nez Perce Indians, who are recalled by the Nez Perce National Historical Park. In the north of the State, the resort town of Coeur D'Alene is home to the worlds only floating golf green, which is situated on a lake where visitors can also hire canoes or take a boat cruise. The Wallace District Mining Museum is situated to the east of Coeur D'Alene. Also on offer in this area is the Sierra Silver Mine Tour and the Oasis Bordello Museum. Visitors can also ride up Silver Mountain on the worlds longest single-stage gondola. The Cataldo mission in North Idaho is the oldest building in the state. Rexburg is home to BYU-Idaho, a 4-year institution associated with the LDS church. Perched at 9,500 feet on Trinity Mountain stands the highest fire lookout in the Boise National Forest. The city of Grace in the Gem Valley is most famous for their certified seed potatoes. The Dworshak Reservoir near Orofino is over 50 miles long. The Dworshak Dam is in Orofino. The economy of Idaho City originally developed around gold mining in the 1860s. It was once the largest town in the Pacific Northwest. Bruneau Canyon Overlook offers a view into a 1,200 foot-deep, 800-foot-wide river canyon. Idaho's world famous hot springs are located in Lava Hot Springs. Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in America, deeper than the Grand Canyon. Shoshone Falls, The Niagara of the West, spills over a 212-foot drop near Twin Falls. Kuna is known as the Gateway City to the Birds of Prey Natural Area. The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is home to the world's most dense population of nesting eagles, hawks, and falcons. Soda Springs boasts the largest man-made geyser in the world. The Lewiston area, at only 734 ft. elevation, is known as Idaho's Banana Belt. Rigby inventor Philo T. Farnsworth's home town, is known as the birthplace of television. Sun Valley was created in 1936 as America's first destination ski resort. Idaho's best mining era towns include Silver City, Idaho City & Custer. Anderson Ranch Reservoir is known for its blue-ribbon fly-fishing. & there is Tipanuk not the Kunapit. The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. Other significant rivers include the Boise River and the Payette River. The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland seaport in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho's highest point (12,662 feet) is Borah Peak in the Lost River Range north of Mackay. Idaho's lowest point (745 ft.) is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River and continues into Washington |
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