Английская Википедия:Geography of Montana
Шаблон:Use mdy dates Montana is one of the eight Mountain States, located in the north of the region known as the Western United States. It borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east. Wyoming is to the south, Idaho is to the west and southwest, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are to the north, making it the only state to border three Canadian provinces.
With an area of Шаблон:Convert,[1] Montana is slightly larger than Japan. It is the fourth-largest state in the United States after Alaska, Texas, and California,Шаблон:Sfn and the largest landlocked state.[2]
Topography
The state's topography is roughly defined by the Continental Divide, which splits much of the state into distinct eastern and western regions.Шаблон:Sfn Most of Montana's hundred or more named mountain ranges are in the state's western half, most of which is geologically and geographically part of the northern Rocky Mountains.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Absaroka and Beartooth ranges in the state's south-central part are technically part of the Central Rocky Mountains.Шаблон:Sfn The Rocky Mountain Front is a significant feature in the state's north-central portion,Шаблон:Sfn and isolated island ranges that interrupt the prairie landscape common in the central and eastern parts of the state.Шаблон:Sfn About 60 percent of the state is prairie, part of the northern Great Plains.Шаблон:Sfn
The Bitterroot Mountains—one of the longest continuous ranges in the Rocky Mountain chain from Alaska to MexicoШаблон:Sfn—along with smaller ranges, including the Coeur d'Alene Mountains and the Cabinet Mountains, divide the state from Idaho. The southern third of the Bitterroot range blends into the Continental Divide.Шаблон:Sfn Other major mountain ranges west of the divide include the Cabinet Mountains, the Anaconda Range, the Missions, the Garnet Range, the Sapphire Mountains, and the Flint Creek Range.Шаблон:Sfn
The divide's northern section, where the mountains rapidly give way to prairie, is part of the Rocky Mountain Front.Шаблон:Sfn The front is most pronounced in the Lewis Range, located primarily in Glacier National Park.Шаблон:Sfn Due to the configuration of mountain ranges in Glacier National Park, the Northern Divide (which begins in Alaska's Seward Peninsula)Шаблон:Sfn crosses this region and turns east in Montana at Triple Divide Peak.Шаблон:Sfn It causes the Waterton River, Belly, and Saint Mary rivers to flow north into Alberta, Canada.Шаблон:Sfn There they join the Saskatchewan River, which ultimately empties into Hudson Bay.Шаблон:Sfn
East of the divide, several roughly parallel ranges cover the state's southern part, including the Gravelly Range, Madison Range, Gallatin Range, Absaroka Mountains, and Beartooth Mountains.Шаблон:Sfn The Beartooth Plateau is the largest continuous land mass over Шаблон:Convert high in the continental United States.Шаблон:Sfn It contains the state's highest point, Granite Peak, Шаблон:Convert high.Шаблон:Sfn North of these ranges are the Big Belt Mountains, Bridger Mountains, Tobacco Roots, and several island ranges, including the Crazy Mountains and Little Belt Mountains.Шаблон:Sfn
Between many mountain ranges are several rich river valleys. The Big Hole Valley,Шаблон:Sfn Bitterroot Valley,Шаблон:Sfn Gallatin Valley,Шаблон:Sfn Flathead Valley,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn and Paradise ValleyШаблон:Sfn have extensive agricultural resources and multiple opportunities for tourism and recreation.
East and north of this transition zone are the expansive and sparsely populated Northern Plains, with tableland prairies, smaller island mountain ranges, and badlands.Шаблон:Sfn The isolated island ranges east of the Divide include the Bear Paw Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Bull Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Castle Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Crazy Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Highwood Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Judith Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Little Belt Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Little Rocky Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn the Pryor Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Little Snowy Mountains, Big Snowy Mountains,Шаблон:Sfn Sweet Grass Hills,Шаблон:Sfn and—in the state's southeastern corner near Ekalaka—the Long Pines.Шаблон:Sfn Many of these isolated eastern ranges were created about 120 to 66 million years ago when magma welling up from the interior cracked and bowed the earth's surface here.Шаблон:Sfn
The area east of the divide in the state's north-central portion is known for the Missouri Breaks and other significant rock formations.Шаблон:Sfn Three buttes south of Great Falls are major landmarks: Cascade, Crown, Square, Shaw, and Buttes.Шаблон:Sfn Known as laccoliths, they formed when igneous rock protruded through cracks in the sedimentary rock.Шаблон:Sfn The underlying surface consists of sandstone and shale.Шаблон:Sfn Surface soils in the area are highly diverse, and greatly affected by the local geology, whether glaciated plain, intermountain basin, mountain foothills, or tableland.Шаблон:Sfn Foothill regions are often covered in weathered stone or broken slate, or consist of uncovered bare rock (usually igneous, quartzite, sandstone, or shale).Шаблон:Sfn The soil of intermountain basins usually consists of clay, gravel, sand, silt, and volcanic ash, much of it laid down by lakes which covered the region during the Oligocene 33 to 23 million years ago.Шаблон:Sfn Tablelands are often topped with argillite gravel and weathered quartzite, occasionally underlain by shale.Шаблон:Sfn The glaciated plains are generally covered in clay, gravel, sand, and silt left by the proglacial Lake Great Falls or by moraines or gravel-covered former lake basins left by the Wisconsin glaciation 85,000 to 11,000 years ago.Шаблон:Sfn Farther east, areas such as Makoshika State Park near Glendive and Medicine Rocks State Park near Ekalaka contain some of the most scenic badlands regions in the state.Шаблон:Sfn
The Hell Creek Formation in Northeast Montana is a major source of dinosaur fossils.Шаблон:Sfn Paleontologist Jack Horner of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman brought this formation to the world's attention with several major finds.Шаблон:Sfn
Rivers, lakes and reservoirs
Montana has thousands of named rivers and creeks,Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Convert of which are known for "blue-ribbon" trout fishing.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Montana's water resources provide for recreation, hydropower, crop and forage irrigation, mining, and water for human consumption.
Montana is one of few geographic areas in the world whose rivers form parts of three major watersheds (i.e. where two continental divides intersect). Its rivers feed the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay. The watersheds divide at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park.Шаблон:Sfn If Hudson Bay is considered part of the Arctic Ocean, Triple Divide Peak is the only place on Earth with drainage to three different oceans.
Pacific Ocean drainage basin
All waters in Montana west of the divide flow into the Columbia River. The Clark Fork of the Columbia (not to be confused with the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River) rises near ButteШаблон:Sfn and flows northwest to Missoula, where it is joined by the Blackfoot River and Bitterroot River.Шаблон:Sfn Farther downstream, it is joined by the Flathead River before entering Idaho near Lake Pend Oreille.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Pend Oreille River forms the outflow of Lake Pend Oreille. The Pend Oreille River joined the Columbia River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean—making the Шаблон:Convert long Clark Fork/Pend Oreille (considered a single river system) the longest river in the Rocky Mountains.Шаблон:Sfn The Clark Fork discharges the greatest volume of water of any river exiting the state.Шаблон:Sfn The Kootenai River in northwest Montana is another major tributary of the Columbia.Шаблон:Sfn
Gulf of Mexico drainage basin
East of the divide the Missouri River, which is formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers near Three Forks,Шаблон:Sfn flows due north through the west-central part of the state to Great Falls.Шаблон:Sfn From this point, it then flows generally east through fairly flat agricultural land and the Missouri Breaks to Fort Peck reservoir.Шаблон:Sfn The stretch of river between Fort Benton and the Fred Robinson Bridge at the western boundary of Fort Peck Reservoir was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1976.Шаблон:Sfn The Missouri enters North Dakota near Fort Union,Шаблон:Sfn having drained more than half the land area of Montana (Шаблон:Convert).Шаблон:Sfn Nearly one-third of the Missouri River in Montana lies behind 10 dams: Toston, Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Holter, Black Eagle, Rainbow, Cochrane, Ryan, Morony, and Fort Peck.Шаблон:Sfn Other major Montana tributaries of the Missouri include the Smith,Шаблон:Sfn Milk,Шаблон:Sfn Marias,Шаблон:Sfn Judith,Шаблон:Sfn and Musselshell Rivers.Шаблон:Sfn Montana also claims the disputed title of possessing the world's shortest river, the Roe River, just outside Great Falls.Шаблон:Sfn Through the Missouri, these rivers ultimately join the Mississippi River and flow into the Gulf of Mexico.Шаблон:Sfn
Hell Roaring Creek begins in southern Montana, and when combined with the Red Rock, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Missouri, and Mississippi River, is the longest river in North America and the fourth longest river in the world.
The Yellowstone River rises on the Continental Divide near Younts Peak in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness.Шаблон:Sfn It flows north through Yellowstone National Park, enters Montana near Gardiner, and passes through the Paradise Valley to Livingston.Шаблон:Sfn It then flows northeasterlyШаблон:Sfn across the state through Billings, Miles City, Glendive, and Sidney.Шаблон:Sfn The Yellowstone joins the Missouri in North Dakota just east of Fort Union.Шаблон:Sfn It is the longest undammed, free-flowing river in the contiguous United States,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn and drains about a quarter of Montana (Шаблон:Convert).Шаблон:Sfn Major tributaries of the Yellowstone include the Boulder,Шаблон:Sfn Stillwater,Шаблон:Sfn Clarks Fork,Шаблон:Sfn Bighorn,Шаблон:Sfn Tongue,Шаблон:Sfn and Powder Rivers.Шаблон:Sfn
Hudson Bay drainage basin
The Northern Divide turns east in Montana at Triple Divide Peak, causing the Waterton, Belly, and Saint Mary Rivers to flow north into Alberta. There they join the Saskatchewan River, which ultimately empties into Hudson Bay.Шаблон:Sfn
Lakes and reservoirs
Montana has some 3,000 named lakes and reservoirs, including Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Other major lakes include Whitefish Lake in the Flathead Valley and Lake McDonald and St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park. The largest reservoir in the state is Fort Peck Reservoir on the Missouri river, which is contained by the second largest earthen dam and largest hydraulically filled dam in the world.Шаблон:Sfn Other major reservoirs include Hungry Horse on the Flathead River; Lake Koocanusa on the Kootenai River; Lake Elwell on the Marias River; Clark Canyon on the Beaverhead River; Yellowtail on the Bighorn River, Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Holter, Rainbow; and Black Eagle on the Missouri River.
Flora and fauna
Vegetation of the state includes lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, larch, spruce, aspen, birch, red cedar, hemlock, ash, alder, rocky mountain maple and cottonwood trees. Forests cover about 25% of the state. Flowers native to Montana include asters, bitterroots, daisies, lupins, poppies, primroses, columbine, lilies, orchids, and dryads. Several species of sagebrush and cactus and many species of grasses are common. Many species of mushrooms and lichensШаблон:Sfn are also found in the state.
Montana is home to diverse fauna including 14 amphibian,Шаблон:Sfn 90 fish,Шаблон:Sfn 117 mammal,Шаблон:Sfn 20 reptile,Шаблон:Sfn and 427 birdШаблон:Sfn species. Additionally, more than 10,000 invertebrate species are present, including 180 mollusks and 30 crustaceans. Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states.Шаблон:Sfn Montana hosts five federally endangered species–black-footed ferret, whooping crane, least tern, pallid sturgeon, and white sturgeon and seven threatened species including the grizzly bear, Canadian lynx, and bull trout.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Efn Since re-introduction the gray wolf population has stabilized at about 900 animals, and they have been delisted as endangered.[3] The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks manages fishing and hunting seasons for at least 17 species of game fish, including seven species of trout, walleye, and smallmouth bassШаблон:Sfn and at least 29 species of game birds and animals including ring-neck pheasant, grey partridge, elk, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, whitetail deer, gray wolf, and bighorn sheep.Шаблон:Sfn
Protected areas
Montana contains Glacier National Park, "The Crown of the Continent"; and parts of Yellowstone National Park, including three of the park's five entrances. Other federally recognized sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and Big Hole National Battlefield. The CSKT Bison Range is managed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the American Prairie is owned and operated by a non-profit organization.
Federal and state agencies administer approximately Шаблон:Convert, or 35 percent of Montana's land. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service administers Шаблон:Convert of forest land in ten National Forests. There are approximately Шаблон:Convert of wilderness in 12 separate wilderness areas that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System established by the Wilderness Act of 1964. The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management controls Шаблон:Convert of federal land. The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service administers Шаблон:Convert of 1.1 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges and waterfowl production areas in Montana. The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation administers approximately Шаблон:Convert of land and water surface in the state. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks operate approximately Шаблон:Convert of state parks and access points on the state's rivers and lakes. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation manages Шаблон:Convert of School Trust Land ceded by the federal government under the Land Ordinance of 1785 to the state in 1889 when Montana was granted statehood. These lands are managed by the state for the benefit of public schools and institutions in the state.Шаблон:Sfn
Areas managed by the National Park Service include:Шаблон:Sfn
- Big Hole National Battlefield near Wisdom
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith
- Glacier National Park
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site at Deer Lodge
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument near Crow Agency
- Nez Perce National Historical Park
- Yellowstone National Park
Climate
Montana is a large state with considerable variation in geography, topography and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The state spans from below the 45th parallel (the line equidistant between the equator and North Pole) to the 49th parallel, and elevations range from under Шаблон:Convert to nearly Шаблон:Convert above sea level. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, and has a semi-arid, continental climate (Köppen climate classification BSk). The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season.Шаблон:Sfn Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.Шаблон:Sfn
Average daytime temperatures vary from Шаблон:Convert in January to Шаблон:Convert in July.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Verification needed The variation in geography leads to great variation in temperature. The highest observed summer temperature was Шаблон:Convert at Glendive on July 20, 1893, and Medicine Lake on July 5, 1937. Throughout the state, summer nights are generally cool and pleasant. Extreme hot weather is less common above Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Snowfall has been recorded in all months of the year in the more mountainous areas of central and western Montana, though it is rare in July and August.Шаблон:Sfn
The coldest temperature on record for Montana is also the coldest temperature for the contiguous United States. On January 20, 1954, Шаблон:Convert was recorded at a gold mining camp near Rogers Pass. Temperatures vary greatly on cold nights, and Helena, Шаблон:Convert to the southeast had a low of only Шаблон:Convert on the same date, and an all-time record low of Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Winter cold spells are usually the result of cold continental air coming south from Canada. The front is often well defined, causing a large temperature drop in a 24-hour period. Conversely, air flow from the southwest results in "chinooks". These steady Шаблон:Convert (or more) winds can suddenly warm parts of Montana, especially areas just to the east of the mountains, where temperatures sometimes rise up to Шаблон:Convert for 10 days or longer.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Loma is the site of the most extreme recorded temperature change in a 24-hour period in the United States. On January 15, 1972, a chinook wind blew in and the temperature rose from Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Miles City recorded the highest mean sea level pressure in the United States on December 24, 1983.[4]
Average annual precipitation is Шаблон:Convert, but great variations are seen. The mountain ranges block the moist Pacific air, holding moisture in the western valleys, and creating rain shadows to the east. Heron, in the west, receives the most precipitation, Шаблон:Convert. On the eastern (leeward) side of a mountain range, the valleys are much drier; Lonepine averages Шаблон:Convert, and Deer Lodge Шаблон:Convert of precipitation. The mountains can receive over Шаблон:Convert, for example the Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park gets Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn An area southwest of Belfry averaged only Шаблон:Convert over a 16-year period. Most of the larger cities get Шаблон:Convert of snow each year. Mountain ranges can accumulate Шаблон:Convert of snow during a winter. Heavy snowstorms may occur from September through May, though most snow falls from November to March.Шаблон:Sfn
The climate has become warmer in MontanaШаблон:When and continues to do so.Шаблон:Sfn The glaciers in Glacier National Park have receded and are predicted to melt away completely in a few decades.Шаблон:Sfn Many Montana cities set heat records during July 2007, the hottest month ever recorded in Montana.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Winters are warmer, too, and have fewer cold spells. Previously, these cold spells had killed off bark beetles, but these are now attacking the forests of western Montana.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The warmer winters in the region have allowed various species to expand their ranges and proliferate.[5] The combination of warmer weather, attack by beetles, and mismanagement has led to a substantial increase in the severity of forest fires in Montana.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn According to a study done for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science, parts of Montana will experience a 200% increase in area burned by wildfires and an 80% increase in related air pollution.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
The table below lists average temperatures for the warmest and coldest month for Montana's seven largest cities. The coldest month varies between December and January depending on location, although figures are similar throughout.
Climate data
| Location | July (°F) | Coldest month (°F) | July (°C) | Coldest month (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 89/54 | 32/14 | 32/15 | 4/–9 |
| Missoula | 86/51 | 30/11 | 31/16 | −0/–8 |
| Great Falls | 83/51 | 28/11 | 34/15 | 1/–9 |
| Bozeman | 81/51 | 27/10 | 31/12 | −0/–11 |
| Butte | 80/45 | 27/7 | 30/5 | −1/–15 |
| Helena | 86/54 | 30/12 | 31/12 | −0/–11 |
| Kalispell | 81/48 | 27/9 | 29/14 | −1/–10 |
Antipodes
Montana is one of only two contiguous states (along with Colorado) that are antipodal to land. The Kerguelen Islands are antipodal to the Montana–Saskatchewan–Alberta border. No towns are precisely antipodal to Kerguelen, though Chester and Rudyard are close.Шаблон:Sfn
Cities and towns
Montana has 56 counties and a total of 364 "places" as defined by the United States Census Bureau; the latter comprising 129 incorporated places and 235 census-designated places. The incorporated places are made up of 52 cities, 75 towns, and two consolidated city-counties.Шаблон:Sfn
Montana has one city, Billings, with a population over 100,000; and three cities with populations over 50,000: Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman. The state also has five Micropolitan Statistical Areas, centered on Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Kalispell and Havre.Шаблон:Sfn
Collectively all of these areas (excluding Havre) are known informally as the "big seven", as they are consistently the seven largest communities in the state (their rank order in terms of population is Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Kalispell, according to the 2010 U.S. Census).Шаблон:Sfn Based on 2013 census numbers, they contain 35 percent of Montana's population,Шаблон:Sfn and the counties in which they are located are home to 62 percent of the state's population.Шаблон:Sfn
The geographic center of population of Montana is in sparsely populated Meagher County, in the town of White Sulphur Springs.
See also
- Regional designations of Montana
- Ecological systems of Montana
- List of mountain ranges in Montana
- List of forests in Montana
- Geography of Alberta
- Geography of Idaho
Notes
References
Works cited
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