“Fifty mountains ranges at the edge of the Great Plains.”
Although most of Montana belongs to the Great Plains, it is mountains that give the state its extraordinary beauty. More than 50 majestic ranges - among them the colorfully named Beaverhead, Big Belt, Crazy, Flathead, and Tobacco Root - make up Mountain’s share of the Rocky Mountains, strung down the western third of the state. Some were formed long ago by violent up - thrust and volcanic eruption, others in more recent geologic time by glacial activity. Faults continue to grind away in western Montana today, carrying on the age - long work of creating new mountains the demolishing old ones.
Population: 794,300
Area: 147,046-sq. mi.
Population per sq. Mi.: 5
Capital: Helena (pop. 23,900)
Largest city: Billings (pop. 116,400)
Elevation: 1,800 ft. (Kootenai River) to 12,799 ft. (Granite Peak)
Major rivers: Kootenai, Clark Fork, Missouri, and Yellowstone
Leading industries: Agriculture (cattle, wheat), timber, mining (gold, silver, copper)
Bird: Western meadowlark
Flower: Bitterroot
Tree: Ponderosa pine
Motto: Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver)
Song: “Montana”
Origin of name: From the Spanish Word for mountainous
Nicknames: Big Sky Country, Bonanza State, Mountain State, Land of the Shining Mountains, and Treasure State
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