State of Wisconsin general data
- Time zone: 7 hours less than Italy
- Capital: Madison
- Main towns: Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine.
- Area: 169.639 km²
- Population: About 5,800,000 inhabitants.
- Population density: 34,1 residents / km²
- State abbreviation: WI
- Entry into the United States: It joins the United States on May 29, 1848, it is the 30th state to join the union.
According to thembaprograms.com, the territory of Wisconsin has suffered the intense action of the glaciation, which in combination with the erosion, has created a characteristic and varied landscape. Broadly speaking, the state can be described as a great plain. The average elevation of the state is 314 m, with the highest point located to the north (Timms Hill), and the lowest point on the shores of Lake Michigan, 177 m above sea level. The part central and northern Wisconsin is a landscape of rolling hills of glacial origin. Between this region and the coast of Lake Superior lies a strip of flat land that was occupied by lakes in ancient geological eras, and which today is affected by the rivers that feed the lake. The center of the state is occupied by plains. In the eastern sector of the state there is a peninsula that enters Lake Michigan. The west region is the only area of Wisconsin that has not been shaped by the glaciation, and where natural agents have altered the surface to form limestone terraces and narrow valleys.
The rivers of Wisconsin flow into Lake Michigan to the east, and the Mississippi River to the west, with only a few flowing into Lake Superior. The main rivers that flow into Michigan are the Manitowoe, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Menominee, Oconto, Wolf, and Fox. Tributaries of the Mississippi River are the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black and Wisconsin Rivers. Since this state has suffered greatly from the effect of the glaciation, lakes abound throughout the territory, in addition to the two that limit it, the Superior and Michigan. The most important of them are Winnebago, to the east near Lake Michigan; Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa, (all close to the capital), Geneva, Muskego and Waupaca lakes. In the north of the state there are small lakes surrounded by woods, which made this area very interesting from a tourist point of view. In addition to lakes, there are various wetlands in the Northern Lake District, the Central Plain and the Rock River Valley. Lake Superior has several natural bays, among them that of Superior-Duluth, Asland and Port Wing. Lake Michigan, however, does not have natural bays, which is why ports have been built along the rivers, such as those that flow into Green, Milwaukee and Manitowoc bays.
Flora and fauna – Approximately 42% of the territory is covered with new growth forests, consisting of oak, maple, birch and poplar. The buffalo and some bird species, such as the carrier pigeon, did not survive the 19th century.
Recent repopulations have brought back wolves, martens and wild turkeys, as well as coyotes, native to the plains, to their natural environment.
The climate of Wisconsin is continental in character, with very low temperatures in the winter and very high in the summer months. There are also great differences between the different geographical areas, both due to the effect of the winds coming from the west, and to the mitigating effect of the lake in the regions close to Michigan. Thus, the average annual temperatures range between 4 ° C and 9 ° C, colder in the southwest, with averages in January between -7 ° C and -9 ° C, and between 21 ° C and 23 ° C in July. As for rainfall, the average rainfall is 760 mm, with variations according to the region. Precipitation is most abundant in the northern and southwestern counties, and is concentrated in the summer months.
Wisconsin: What to see
Milwaukee — The Harley-Davidson Museum displays over 400 classic motorcycles and memorabilia, including the original 1903 No.1 and Elvis Presley’s 1956 white and orange motorcycle. Photo exhibits reconstruct the life of early Harley enthusiasts, a park, café, restaurant and shop complete the experience. Motorcycle enthusiasts will also enjoy the Harley-Davidson Tour Center, with free one-hour tours showing engine manufacturing.
Captain Frederick Pabst, brewer, made his fortune with the famous Pabst Blue Ribbon. His main residence, the 1892 Pabst Mansion, is at the west end of grand Wisconsin Avenue. In the old industrial district of Third Ward, south of downtown and a temple of entertainment and shopping, is The Eisner: American Museum of Advertising and Design which critically illustrates the role of advertising in modern culture and society. To the east, the Milwaukee Art Museum houses 20,000 works of art. The Miller Brewing Company, the last remaining old brewery in town. Today it is the second largest beer producer in the United States, after Anheuser-Busch in Saint Louis. The Miller Brewing Company Tour organizes guided tours of the factory and the nearby Caves Museum. Another important Milwaukee monument is the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s last works. The spectacular shore of Lake Michigan hosts a long line of festivals, including Summerfest, with 11 days of music and food between June and July.
Among the natural attractions to mention are: Wisconsin Dells. The beauty of the area and the variety of man-made attractions make it a popular tourist destination. Not to be missed are the trips organized by Dells Boat Tours, in the middle of the rocky walls of the Upper and Lower Dells. The highest concentration of water parks in the world, 18 of which are indoor, draw families to the area.
Apostle Islands off the northeastern coast of Lake Superior is a group of 21 islands, remnants left by the retreat of glaciers during the last ice age. Today 21 islands belong to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
According to countryaah.com, Door County is a rugged territory reminiscent of New England. The county occupies the northern two thirds of the peninsula. Porte des Morts, or “Gate of the dead”. The region’s past, characterized by fishing and sailing, is portrayed in the Door County Maritime Museum in the center of Sturgeon Bay, the county’s main port and southernmost town. A few miles north is The Farm, a traditional Wisconsin farm with a small zoo of cows, goats, pigs, chickens, horses and domestic cats.
The 400km of coastline is dotted with more than a dozen county parks and five state parks. The largest is Peninsula State Park, between the quaint towns of Fish Creek and Ephraim.
Cultural Tourist Places – Among the many cultural institutions of this state stand out: the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Art Center, the Elvehjem Art Museum, the State Museum of Wisconsin History, the Circus World Museum, the National Railroad Museum, the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum and the John Michael Kohler Center of Arts. Other places of historical and cultural interest are the Aztalan state park, where a village of the Indians who lived here when the first Europeans arrived, the Old Wade House, in Greenbush, with the museum of carriages is reproduced; the Old World Wisconsin, which is a park featuring farms built by different groups of immigrants who occupied the territory during the 19th century, and the Paine Art Center and Arboretum, in Oshkosh. Particularly interesting from an architectural point of view are the buildings designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, a native of the state, including the architect’s house, near Spring Green, the Unitarian Church, in Madison, and the building of the Johnson Wax Company, in Racine.
Fun Fact – According to topschoolsoflaw.com, Wisconsin has several teams in the most popular professional leagues in the United States, such as the Green Bay Packers in American football, the Milwaukee Brewers in baseball and the Milwaukee Bucks in basketball.
