NEBRASKA

Nickname:

Cornhusher State

Location:

Nebraska is known as a Great Plains state of the United States. In the past it was considered part of the Great American Desert but now it is a leading farming state. Nebraska , as a state of the Midwest Region, is bordered by Wyoming and Colorado on the west, by South Dakota on the north, Kansas on the south and the eastern boundary with Missouri and Iowa is built by the Missouri River.

Area:

200,350 km²

Climate:

There are two major kinds of the climate, which are represented in Nebraska: the western third of the country lies in a semiarid steppe climate and the rest of the state on the east has a hot summer continental climate. There are quite common the thunderstorms mainly in spring and summer, because Nebraska is located in Tornado Alley.

Population:

1,758,787 people

The five largest ancestry groups in Nebraska are German(39%), Irish(12%), English(10%), Swedish(5%) and Czech(5%). Nebraska has the biggest Czech-Americans population in the nation (as a percentage of the total population).

Capital:

The capital of Nebraska is called Lincoln. Lincoln started out as the village of Lancaster, which was founded in 1856, and became the county seat of the newly-created Lancaster Country in 1859. The capital of Nebraska Territory had been Omaha since the creation of the territory in 1854, however, most of the territory's population lived south of the Platte River. After much of the territory south of the Platte was connected to Kansas, the legislature voted to move the capital south of the river and as far west as possible. The village of Lancaster was chosen, renamed Lincoln and became the state capital. Today, Lincoln is the second-largest city in the state, after Omaha. To the most interesting attractions of the city belong Nebraska State Capitol, with a golden dome and a 6-meter tall statue of farmer on the top of the tower, Lincoln Children's Museum, National Museum of Roller Skating and Licorice International, which offers the largest selection of European licorice in the United States.

Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln

Cities:

To the largest cities of Nebraska belong Omaha, which is the most populous city of the state, Lincoln, the capital, Bellevue, Grand Island, Norfolk and Sioux City.

Omaha skyline

Universities:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the main institution of the University of Nebraska system. It was founded in 1869.

University of Nebraska at Omaha, which was established in 1908, is the second-largest institution of local higher education.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska Medical centre
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Sights:

Areas of interest for visitors to Nebraska include many State Parks, incredible zoos and historic sites. There are also several art, science and history museums found in Nebraska.

Nebraska is considered the beginning of the west. This location include the 100^th meridian, Chimney Rock, the Missouri River and the crossroad of 13^th Street in Lincoln. That is why the tourists´ favourite slogan is “Where the West begins”. The 100th meridian west is a line of longitude passing through North America and the Pacific Ocean. In the Great Plains of the central United States, the meridian passes through Manitoba, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Platte River State Park offers activities ranging from swimming at a supervised pool to guided horseback trail rides through timbered hills. Sights to see include the quaint Red Barn and a charming little waterfall. If you're watchful, you might even spot a flock of wild turkeys as they wander past your cabin. Those who like to rise with the sun should indulge in a hike through the picturesque woodlands.

The Strategic Air & Space Museum is regarded as the nation's foremost facility of its kind, the $29.5 million museum opened on May 16, 1998, preserves aircraft and missiles for future generations. The Museum is a 300,000 square foot building that features a glass atrium, two aircraft display hangars, a travelling exhibit area, a children's interactive gallery, a 200-seat theater, a Museum store, an aircraft restoration gallery, and a snack bar. The glass atrium is a breathtaking structure constructed of 525 glass panels that encase the awesome Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

The Neligh Mill is a surviving reminder of the grist mills that once dotted Nebraska's landscape. Explore the mill, restored mill office, reconstructed flume and penstock, and the remains of the mill dam. Museum displays explain the history of the Neligh Mill and provide information about other water-powered mills once located throughout Nebraska and the Midwest. Publications available for purchase at the Neligh Mill include the Neligh Mill Cookbook, Water Powered Mills in Nebraska, and a self-guided tour book of the Neligh Mill.

Chimney Rock is a famous geological formation in western Nebraska, which is situated in Morrill Country. It is rising about 91m above the surrounding North Platte River Valley.

Mountains:

Much of the country is built by gently rolling prairie, although the river valleys, part of the panhandle district and south central Nebraska are flatlands. Nebraska is composed of two major land regions: the Great Plains and the Dissected Till Plains.

The Great Plains lies in the western part of the country and they include many smaller mountains (the Sand Hills, the Pine Ridge, the Rainwater Basin, the High Plains and the Wildcat Hills). The highest peak of Nebraska is called the Panorama Point(1,653m).

The Dissected Till Plains were left behind after the glacier retreated and today it is a region of gently rolling hills.

Rivers:

Rivers played a very important role in geography and settlement of Nebraska. The territory of Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867. It was decided that the state should be named after the largest river in the area. That particular river had been given two names. The white settlers had named it the Platte River, which is what it is known as today. An Oto Indian tribe living in the area called the river Nebraska, which means "flat water." No one is sure how Nebraska was chosen over Platte, but most agree it was the better choice.

The biggest river of Nebraska is called the Missouri. The Missouri was used as a major highway to the trans-Mississippi West in the 19^th century. The Platte River is the second-biggest river in the country.

Lakes:

Lake Mc Conaughy, that function as a very popular recreation area, is the largest lake in the state.

History:

Before the arrival of European settlers, the plains of the Nebraska territory were filled with wild buffalo. Several different Native American tribes lived and hunted in the area. Some where hunters or gatherer groups who lived in teepees and moved from place to place. Other tribes built more permanent structures and planted gardens. As the white settlers moved into the Nebraska area, they followed the lead of their new neighbours. In 1682 Nebraska was inhabited by the French. In 1803 the land gained the Americans. The American explorers set off the journey against the stream of the Missouri , and thanks to that the fur trade was opened. In the early 1940’s the Platte Valley became an entrance gate to the West for thousands of new settlers. Railway builders soon recognised the rich agricultural potential of this country. The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869 and the railroad construction that followed contributed to the development of the state. Farms and ranches sprang up everywhere. Agriculture and cattle ranching became the main sources of income for these early settlers and remains so today. After Nebraska 's admission to the Union in 1867, the population rapidly increased. The Indian resistance on the frontier was broken during these years and the settlement extended westward into the panhandle of the state. Nebraska has kept its communication and trade importance as the traffic artery of the United States till today.

Industry:

Food processing is considered the leading activity in the connection with agriculture. Other important branches of industry include the manufacture of chemicals and machinery, printing and publishing and the production of metals, electronic and transportation equipment.

Agriculture:

Nebraska has practised scientific farming to change the local prairie into a land of farms. Today Nebraska belongs to the leading agricultural producers. The biggest amount of crops contain corn, soybeans, sorghum, potatoes, wheat and hay. Animals such as cattle, hogs and pigs are for Nebraska also very significant.


wild buffalo	country	field

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