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Iowa [a in ʹəwə], abbreviated IA, Midwestern State
between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, USA; 145,790 km2, 3.2
million inhabitants (2018).The capital is Des Moines.
Iowa. State Map.
Nature
Iowa's nature is dominated by the prairie, which gently rises from the
southeast to the northwest with an average height of just over 300 m above sea
level.
Iowa. The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Natural Park in central Iowa was created in 1990 to preserve an original prairie
area with tall grass. There is also a smaller group of bison oxen in the area.
The only more dramatic features of the landscape are the spectacular dolomite
hills in the state's northeastern corner as well as some steep riverside
beaches.
The state's main river is Des Moines, which named the capital. Iowa is rich
in small lakes, many of them with rich bird life. Mississippi and Missouri, have
great bird life.
The average temperature in the summer is about 24 °C and in the winter −4 °C
in the south-east and −9 °C in the northwest. The rainfall is 700–800 mm per
year. During the winter, it falls like snow.
Population
Since 1990, the state's population has increased by about 10 percent, the
largest being the increase during the 1990s. The distribution is fairly
even; real big cities are missing. About 92 percent of the population is white
and many of Scandinavian origin. The largest urban area is Des Moines (634,700
inhabitants, 2016).
Business
Iowa is the United States' most agricultural state; over 90 percent of the
land is agricultural land. Mainly, maize is grown (mainly forage maize used for
breeding pigs) and soybeans. Iowa accounts for 1/4 of US pork production, and
only Texas has greater beef production. The industry has traditionally been
highly agricultural oriented (food industry, manufacturing of agricultural
machinery), but in recent years a more versatile production has emerged with,
for example, biotechnology, electronics and machine manufacturing. The
importance of the service and service industries has also increased
significantly.
Tourism and gastronomy
The starting point for tourism in Iowa is usually the capital of Des
Moines. Among the attractions are a number of interesting museums, such as the
Art Museum (Des Moines Art Center), which houses Carl Mile's Pegasus and
Bellerophon fountain. Also mentioned is the open-air museum Living History
Farms.
The culturally-interested tourist also applies to eastern Iowa, which is
partly colonized by various religious groups, such as the Amish in the Kalona
area.
One of Iowa's main tourist destinations is Amana Colonies, seven villages
whose inhabitants of Germany were until 1932 lived in an "utopian" work and
ownership community. Nowadays, however, they make a clear distinction between
their religion and social and working life. They rely on industry, crafts and,
not least, tourism. Elsewhere in the state, immigrant history is strongly
reminded, for example, in the Dutch-influenced Pella southeast of Des Moines and
in northeastern Iowa, where many Scandinavian settlers settled. In Decorah,
there is thus the Norwegian Vesterheim, considered one of the USA's most
important immigrant museums.
The nature of the Prairie State of Iowa is not grand but relatively varied
with its many rivers, rivers and small lakes (both natural and dammed), and for
the outdoor enthusiast, the recreational opportunities are good. Even trips with
old-fashioned wheelchairs on Mississippi, sometimes in combination with casino
games, can attract visitors.
Iowa. Spirit of Dubuque is one of several replicas
of 19th-century wheel archers operating in the Mississippi River.
In the middle of the corn belt, with immigrants from Germany, Scandinavia,
Poland and the states of New England, Iowa holds a mix of many traditions with
common traits of the aspiring peasant population: take advantage of everything,
don't mess up the recipes and serve copious portions. The corn dominates, in
soups (corn chowder), puddings, cakes and salads. The many immigrant
German and Polish butchers brought specialties in the form of pork and meats.
History
Iowa has been the home of many different Native American cultures. The first
Europeans were French explorers, who arrived there in 1673.
Iowa was incorporated with the United States through the Louisiana Purchase
in 1803, became territory in 1838, and the state in 1846. The area belonged to
the Native American treaty, but the fertile land attracted white settlers there
in large numbers. After the so-called Black Hawk War in 1832, the Indians were
greatly weakened, and the area was completely vacated by the Native people
during the 1850s. The population then increased rapidly, among other
things. through immigration from Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The
economic development was entirely based on agriculture, which gained a strong
boost through the expansion of the railway network. In addition, during the
1880s, one-sided wheat cultivation was abandoned and a more diversified
agriculture developed.
Politically, Republicans have long dominated, but since Iowa after the Second
World War developed a more diverse business community, Democrats have become
even more powerful.
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