| Montana
and Canada share a 545-mile (877 km) portion of the world's longest
undefended border. The state of Montana borders the Canadian provinces of British
Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, which means it borders more provinces than any other state.
This area, following U.S. Highway 2, is often called the "High
Line." To the east is North Dakota; to the southeast is a short
border with South Dakota. In the south is Wyoming, and on the west and
southwest is Idaho. Although Montana is often regarded as mountainous,
about 60% of the state is actually prairie in the Great Plains. The
central and western two-thirds of the state have numerous mountain ranges
of the northern Rocky Mountains. With a land area of 145,552 square miles
(376,978 kmē), the state of Montana is the fourth largest in the United States
Major rivers in the state include the Missouri, the Clark Fork of the Columbia,
Milk, Flathead, and Yellowstone. The Yellowstone River is the longest
undammed river in North America. Montana is also one of several areas to
claim the disputed title of "world's shortest river", the Roe
River. Montana contains Glacier National Park and portions of Yellowstone
National Park. Other sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument,
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Big Hole National Battlefield,
Lewis and Clark Caverns, and the National Bison Range. There are also
numerous National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. The Federal
government administers 36,000,000 acres (146,000 kmē). 275,000 acres
(1,100 kmē) are administered as state parks and forests. |
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