The state of Idaho got its name from a steamer that cruised the Columbia River. Or from the Indian Edaho, which means “the light on the mountains”, we are not quite sure.
What is safe to say is that Idaho is found in the Northwest of the United States, bordering Montana to the north, Wyoming to the east, Utah and Nevada to the south, as well as Oregon and Washington to the west.
In the north is also the border with Canada. The capital Boise has a little more than 200,000 inhabitants of the state, which has a total of almost 1.6 million citizens.
The US state of Idaho
The flag of Idaho
The Idaho flag shows a woman and man working in the mountains.
In Idaho, 92.5% of the residents are white, of which about 10% are Latino.
The rest is divided into Indians, Blacks and Asians.
In addition to the growing branch of tourism, potatoes, beets, barley, wheat and also wine are grown in Idaho’s rural areas.
Industrial production of wood-based products, hardware for computers and other products are created here. In addition, some mineral resources such as silver are extracted from the mountainous country.
The biggest cities
The population figures are from the year 2010 and are rounded.
- Boise (pop. 206,000)
- Nampa
- meridian
- Idaho Falls
- Pocatello
- Caldwell
- Coeur d’Alene
- Twin Falls
- Lewiston
- Post Falls (28,000)
The weather and climatic conditions
In western Idaho, the Pacific wind can still be felt, which works its way into the country via Oregon and Washington. The often supplied clouds then rain down on the Rocky Mountains, which determine the climate of Idaho to an important extent.
Warm, often hot summer temperatures and cold, snowy winters alternate in Idaho. The east side of the Rocky Mountains has a continental climate with fewer rainy days, but even here it can get cooler from time to time.
In the south the weather is balanced, not very hot in summer and in winter there are hardly any temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
Sightseeing features
Boise
In the capital of Idaho you can visit the State Capitol.
Visit the Idaho State Government’s official website to get an idea and view the hours of operation.
Coeur d’Alene
Located in northern Idaho, this city offers a good starting point for winter vacationers and skiers. There are several ski areas nearby, all of which can be easily reached from the city. Located on the north bank of the river of the same name, you feel like you are in Garda, on Lake Garda.
Sun Valley
In the small town you can discover skiers all year round.
Shoshone Falls
Located at Twin Falls in Southwest Idaho is the impressive waterfall that plunges more than 60 meters. To experience the waterfall in its full capacity, you should visit it from late September to early April.
Hell’s Canyon
Hells Canyon in western Idaho is the deepest canyon in the United States at nearly 8,000 feet. Walking along the cliff walls of the canyon, you can see Native American drawings carved and painted into the rock by the tribes who lived here in the past. Hikes through the area or a wild water rafting offer variety and sporting activities.
Moon craters at Arco
In southeastern Idaho near the town of Arco you will find an unreal lava landscape that is even protected as a national monument. The rock layers caused by volcanic eruptions and also lava caves can be explored on foot in a 215 km² area.