The state includes several geographical regions, but the Rocky Mountains are the most dominant feature. There are more than two hundred mountain ranges in Idaho. Some of the main ranges include the Salmon, Clearwater, Bitterroot, and Sawtooth Mountains. Valuable forests and minerals are found in many of these areas. The Columbia Plateau, another of the state's geographic areas, covers much of southern Idaho. The plateau sits atop layers of rock and lava left over from ancient volcanic eruptions. In some areas these layers are thousands of feet thick. The Columbia Plateau is important for farming and ranching. In the southeast corner is the dry Basin and Range region. The Snake River, which flows westward across southern Idaho before going into Washington, is one of the state's major rivers.
Considering its nickname—the Gem State—it shouldn't be surprising that mining has been and continues to be an important part of Idaho's economy. Idaho is a leading producer of silver, lead, and other minerals. The top three industries in Idaho are manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. While most people think of potatoes when they think of Idaho, wheat, sugar beets, and peas are major crops, too. Idaho also benefits from a large livestock industry. And one of the state's most important resources is water. It is used for irrigating, generating hydroelectric power, supporting industry, and drinking. Another important area of Idaho's economy is tourism. People are drawn to the state to ski, fish, hunt, camp, and appreciate Idaho's scenic beauty.
1,499,402
Capital:
State Abbreviation: ID
Governor: C. L. `Butch` Otter (Republican)
U.S. Senators: 2
Larry Craig (Republican)
Michael Crapo (Republican)
U.S. Representatives: 2
Republicans: 2
Democrats 0
State Senators: 39
State Representatives: 70
Counties: 44