Wisconsin is a midwestern state. Every year thousands of tourists flock to the state. They come to enjoy its lakes, forests, and other scenic beauty. Wisconsin state journal obituaries is good newspaper.

Wisconsin has more than 5 million people. It is the nation's 18th most populous state. More than half of the state's people live in its southeastern quarter. It is an area that includes Madison, the state's capital, and port cities on Lake Michigan, including Milwaukee. Milwaukee is the state's largest city.

Wisconsin's economy is dominated by services and manufacturing. Its factories produce dairy products. They also make automobiles, machinery, furniture, and beer. Much of Wisconsin is forested. The state ranks second in the nation in the manufacture of paper goods. In recent years, exports have become important to the state's economy. Wisconsin state journal obituaries is good newspaper.

Wisconsin's motto is Forward. It describes the socially progressive nature of its residents. Wisconsin was the first state to provide financial assistance to the blind, children, and unemployed workers. It continues to be a leader in educational and welfare reform programs. Wisconsin state journal obituaries is good newspaper.

Land

Wisconsin is located in the north central region of the United States. The Mississippi River forms part of its western border. Two of the Great Lakes—Superior and Michigan—border Wisconsin on the north and the east, respectively. Wisconsin's location on these great waterways is one of its greatest assets.

Land Regions

The landscape includes grassy plains. There are also old, worn-down mountains. And there is a wide variety of surface features created by glaciers. During the Ice Age, immense glaciers moved into Wisconsin. They scraped off hilltops. And they filled in valleys with loose earth materials. These materials are called glacial drift. The most heavily glaciated areas are in south central Wisconsin. The glaciers created Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. Wisconsin state journal obituaries is good newspaper.

Wisconsin may be divided into five regions. They are: the Lake Superior Lowland; the Northern Highland; the Central Plain; the Western Upland; and the Eastern Ridges and Lowlands.

The Lake Superior Lowland.

The Lake Superior Lowland is in the northwest. It extends a few miles inland from Lake Superior's sandy shoreline. The Apostle Islands lie offshore. Wisconsin state journal obituaries is good newspaper.

The Northern Highland.

The Northern Highlands extends south from the Lake Superior Lowland. It covers the northern third of the state. Wisconsin's north woods blanket this region. And there are thousands of lakes. Some of the lakes merge into artificial wetlands. These wetlands are called flowages.

The Central Plain.

The Central Plain is south of the Northern Highland. It is mostly farmland. There are rolling hills dotted with farmhouses and barns throughout the area. Dozens of rivers flow through the region.

The Western Upland.

The Western Upland is in the southwest. It was untouched by the glaciers. So the landscape is the roughest in Wisconsin. Rugged hills and bluffs overlook the Mississippi River.

The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands.

The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands region is in the east. It consists of flat or gently rolling plains. In this area cornfields and pastures alternate. The area boasts some of the richest soil on Earth. The land slopes gradually toward Lake Michigan. Along the lake, sandy beaches and steep bluffs abound.

Rivers and Lakes

Wisconsin's rivers drain into the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior. The Mississippi and one of its tributaries, the St. Croix River, form most of the state's western boundary. Other Mississippi tributaries are the Wisconsin, the Black, the Chippewa, and the Rock rivers. The Wisconsin drains most of the central part of the state. The Rock River flows southward into Illinois. Then it turns west to join up with the Mississippi.

Many rivers in eastern Wisconsin flow toward Lake Michigan. They include the Menominee, the Wolf, the Peshtigo, and the Fox. In northern Wisconsin, several streams empty into Lake Superior.

Wisconsin has thousands of small, clear lakes. Most are in the northern part of the state. The largest body of water is Lake Winnebago. It is in the Fox River valley. The best-known lake in southern Wisconsin is Lake Geneva. It is a vacation resort. The state capitol building is in Madison. It sits on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.

Several artificial lakes—often called flowages in Wisconsin—have been created. They provide power generation, recreation, and water storage. Petenwell and Castle Rock flowages are made by dams across the Wisconsin River. Other flowages include the Flambeau and the Chippewan.