| Idaho
. . .
Idaho's official flag was adopted
in 1907. The flag is deep blue
with the state seal in the center
surrounded by a yellow band.
The seal pictures a miner carrying
a pick and wielding a shovel
and a woman carrying the scales
of justice, symbolizing liberty
and justice, the motto "ESTO
PERPETUA" two full, yellow
cornucopias, an elk head atop
a shield (picturing a river,
settlers, a fir tree, and mountainous
land), a sheaf of grain, green
grass, and a blue sky. The flag
is surrounded by a yellow fringe
on three sides.
Idaho is the 43rd state and
joined the nation in 1890. Idaho's
state capital and largest city
is Boise.
Idaho is shaped like a logger's
boot and logging and mining
are big industries in the state.
Most of us know Idaho for its
potatoes and Idaho's soil, water,
clean air and climate provides
the perfect growing condition
for potatoes. Major agriculture
in Idaho are cattle, potatoes,
dairy products, wheat, sugar
beets, barley. The main industries
are food processing, lumber
and wood products, machinery,
chemical products, paper products,
silver and other mining, tourism.
Idaho has a rugged landscape
with some of the largest natural
areas in the country and about
1/3 of the state is forested.
Within these areas are two of
the longest rivers in the nation
that lie entirely in one state,
called the Clearwater and the
Salmon. Idaho is called the
Gem of the Mountains, and there
is a wild, spectacular beauty
in the rapid rivers, beautiful
evergreen forests, and many
steep waterfalls and canyons
that break in between the rugged
Rocky Mountains. Idaho's many
natural attractions provide
outdoor recreational resources
that attract more than 6 million
visitors each year. More than
30,000 acres of Yellowstone
National Park are in eastern
Idaho and in southern Idaho
is the famous Craters of the
Moon National Monument. Big-game
hunting, trout fishing, camping
and winter sports are very popular
outdoor activities. The winter
season is long and cold so skiing
is a hot recreational activity
with about 20 ski resorts across
the state.
Idaho has four season climate,
but conditions can change fast,
especially in the mountains.
In the Plains and valleys summers
are pleasant and warm and evenings
cool. Fall is much cooler and
winter conditions usually bring
a lot of snow and cold conditions.
Summer high temperatures on
average are 75 degrees, while
winter highs in the 30s. The
average annual rainfall approaches
26 inches. Mountains in the
south, central and north are
cooler throughout the year with
cold and snowy conditions fall
and winter. Mean summer temperature
are near 64 degrees, dropping
to around 30 degrees in winter.
The average rainfall in the
higher elevations of the Rockies
(central and north) exceeds
60 inches, and snowfall is usually
heavy.
Idaho has 44 counties:
Ada
Adams Bannock
Bear Lake Benewah Bingham
Blaine Boise
Bonner Bonneville
Boundary Butte
Camas Canyon
Caribou Cassia
Clark Clearwater
Custer Elmore
Franklin Fremont
Gem Gooding
Idaho Jefferson
Jerome Kootenai
Latah Lemhi
Lewis Lincoln
Madison Minidoka
Nez Perce Oneida
Owyhee Payette
Power Shoshone Teton
Twin Falls
Valley Washington
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state - Idaho