State of Montana Mountains, Lakes, Rivers

Montana geography is a fascinating study for any visitor, with over 50 mountain ranges, huge pristine lakes and the river valleys and tall grasslands of the Great Plains.

State of Montana Statistics:

Size: 147,138 square miles (381,087 sq km), 4th largest in the US - behind Alaska, Texas, and California. Approximately 630 miles east/west, 280 miles north/south.

Longitude: 104 2'W to 116 2'W

Latitude: 44 26'N to 49N

Highest Point: Granite Peak - 12,799 feet (3,904 meters) above seal level .

Lowest Point: Kootenai River - 1,800 feet (549 meters) above seal level.

Major Rivers: Missouri River, Yellowstone River

Largest Lakes: Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake (reservoir on the Missouri River)

The State of Montana is made up of two distinct geographic areas. Over half the state, to the east, is considered part of the Great Plains. The western portion of Montana is dominated by the Rocky Mountains.

The Great Plains of Montana are primarily high, rolling grasslands and a few large river valleys. A few mountain ranges are scattered throughout this portion of the state, including the Bear Paw Mountains, Big Snowy Mountains, Judith Mountains, and the Little Rocky Mountains. Unique and colorful Badlands are found in southeast Montana, formed by dramatic erosion of the earths surface over many centuries. The Missouri River is the major river draining the eastern part of the state, fed by its tributaries: the Milk, the Marias, the Sun, and the Yellowstone, which is the longest dam-free river in the United States.

The Rocky Mountain Region of Montana is covered by a variety of mountain ranges with wide, flat valleys in between. Upper reaches are covered in fir, spruce, pine, and other evergreens, with some aspens. Many of the higher mountain areas remain covered with snow for up to 10 months of the year. A few active Glaciers exist at extreme altitudes, primarily further north in the (of course) Glacier National Park region. Mountain ranges typically feature numerous high alpine lakes.

Montana features over 50 mountain ranges, including the Absaroka, Beartooth, Bridger, Big Belt, Little Belt, Crazy, Gallatin, Madison, Tobacco Root, Bitterroot, Beaverhead, Cabinet, Flathead, Mission, and Swan ranges. Granite Peak, in the Beartooth Mountains, is the highest point in Montana, at nearly 13,000 feet. The Absaroka-Beartooth region boasts the largest land mass above 10,000 feet in North America. The entire region is prone to earthquakes, due to numerous faults in the earths ever-changing crust.

The Continental Divide is the name for the continuous division from north to south along the Rocky Mountain crest that divides the flow of water between the river systems flowing to the Pacific Ocean from those flowing to the Atlantic. This divide forms the Western border between Montana and Idaho. Montana is the only state with rivers draining into the Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.