Geography Circuit

POPULATION: 1,963,692 (2021) – 38th, similar to Latvia, Slovenia

AREA: 200,300 km² or 77,348 mi² – 16th, similar to Kyrgyzstan, Senegal

CAPITAL: Lincoln

OTHER MAJOR CITIES: Omaha, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Papillion, Hastings, Norfolk, Columbus 

LANDMARKS:

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Located on remnants of the Oregon, California, and Pony Express Trails along the North Platte River;home to several iconic rock formations

Chimney Rock: Famous 480-foot landmark along multiple intercontinental trails; made from clay and volcanic ash molded together by erosion

Ashfall Fossil Beds: Extremely-well preserved fossils in an ashbed; saber-toothed deer, rhino relatives and more were killed by a volcanic event 12 million years ago

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge: Named after a US Army Garrison; part of a group of NWRs that protect the unique ecoregion of the Sandhills

Fort Atkinson: First US Army post to be established west of the Missouri in the Louisiana Purchase region; credited by Nebraska legislature as first Nebraskan town

MAJOR BODIES OF WATER:

Missouri River: Longest river flowing through Nebraska; Including Lewis and Clark Lake, forms Nebraska’s border with three states total

Platte River: Longest river entirely in Nebraska; formed by two significantly longer North and South branches; empties into the Missouri River at Omaha

Niobrara River: Large tributary of Missouri almost entirely in Nebraska; flows through the Sand Hills; is designate as a National Scenic River

Ogallala Aquifer: shallow aquifer running through eight states, including Nebraska; runs under the vast majority of the state, and is an important freshwater source

Lake Mcconaughy: Largest reservoir in Nebraska; formed by the Kingsley Dam on the North Platte River; important power and irrigation source for the state

MAJOR EXPORTS: Beef Products, Soy Products, Corn, Pork, Petroleum Products, Natural Gas, Insecticides

FUN FACTS:

• The College World Baseball Series is held each year in Omaha. 
• A car-based replica of Stonehenge called Carhenge can be found in western Nebraska. Stonehenge’s connections to the sun (somehow) manifested here when Carhenge was directly in the path of a total solar eclipse in August 2017.
• The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is one of the best zoos in the world, with several record-holding exhibits and a major role in modern conservation.
• Panorama Point, the highest peak in Nebraska, lies right next to an intersection with Colorado and Wyoming’s borders.
• Nebraska’s legislature is unicameral, only having a Senate. It also does not recognize the political affiliations of its members.

Map courtesy of Nations Online Project.

Data courtesy of Wikipedia