Geography of Montana

The largest landlocked state in the United States, Montana is known for its majestic mountains. Granite Peak (3,904 m) is the highest point in the state.

Area	147,046 square miles
Land Area	145,556 square miles
Water Area	1,490 square miles
Mean Elevation	1,035 meters
Highest Point	Granite Peak (3,903 meters)
Lowest Point	Kootenai River (549 meters)
Geographic Center	Fergus County

General Features

Montana is a state located in Northwestern United States. Covering an area of 147,046 square miles, it is the fourth-largest state. It is bordered on the north by the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; on the south by Wyoming and Idaho, on the east by North Dakota and South Dakota and on the west by Idaho. The geographic center of the state is in Fergus County.

The landscape of Montana comprises two geographic areas:

The Great Plains: Covering the eastern three-fifths of Montana, the Great Plains are part of the Interior Plain of North America that stretches from Canada south to Mexico. The area is characterized by high, gently rolling land interrupted by hills and wide river valleys. The Bear Paws, Big Snowy, Judith, and Little Rocky Mountains lie in this region.

The Rocky Mountain Region: The area occupies the western two-fifths of Montana and consists of flat valleys and mountains. The mountains are covered by fir, spruce, pine, and other evergreen trees. The Montana Rocky Mountains are well known for their clear, cold lakes. The region comprises more than fifty mountain ranges. Absaroka, Beartooth, Beaverhead, Mission, Swan, and Tobacco Root ranges are some of the major mountain peaks. The area is also occupied by the Continental Divide, the place that separates the waters running in the state into two distinct eastern and western regions.

Climate

Montana has a variable climate owing to the large size of the state. The monthly average temperatures range from 86.6 degrees to 8.1 degrees. The highest temperature recorded in Montana is 47 °C; it was registered at Glendive on July 20, 1893 and at Medicine Lake on July 5, 1937. Snowfall is common in the state. The lowest temperature recorded was −57 °C at Rogers Pass on January 20, 1954. Montana has an average annual precipitation of 380 mm. The state does not have very severe weather conditions but heavy snowstorms do occur in early September and late May.

Mountains

Montana is known for its mountainous ranges and scenic valleys.

Some of the major mountains in the state are:

Granite Peak Beartooth Beaverhead Big Belt Bitterroot Flathead Gallatin Madison Tobacco Root

Rivers

There are numerous rivers in Montana, offering exciting opportunities for whitewater rafting, fishing, etc. Clark Fork River, Missouri River, and Yellowstone River are the major rivers found in the state.

The other important rivers are:

• Jefferson River
• Beaverhead River
• Red Rock River
• Gardner River
• Boulder River
• Blackfoot River
• St. Mary River

Lakes

There are a number of lakes and reservoirs in the US state of Montana that serve as popular tourist destinations. The lakes provide opportunities for boating, fishing, camping, swimming, and windsurfing.

The major lakes in the state are:

• Flathead Lake
• Hebgen Lake
• Lake Helena
• Snowshoe Lake
• Swan Lake
• Murphy Lake
• Alvord Lake

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