Nebraska is located in the Midwest of the United States. The name Nebraska is again from the Native American vocabulary and means something like “flat water”. The name comes from the Platte River, which flows through the state. The state is one of the largest producers of agricultural products in the United States. Just over 100 years ago, buffalo grazed on the state’s prairie; today we find them scattered on reservations. About 25% of Nebraska is covered by grassy dunes. Under the “Sand Hills” is a huge reservoir of drinking water.
Nebraska’s modern agriculture has transformed the prairie plains into a land of ranches and farms. Maize, wheat, millet, soybeans and sugar beet are the main crops produced. Cattle and pig breeding is also important. More than 90% of the area is used for agriculture, earning the state the nickname “Breadstock of the USA”. The 1.8 million inhabitants live on an area of about 200,000 km², which is about the size of Kyrgyzstan. A good 240,000 people live in the capital , Lincoln. The state is 89% white and 4% black, with the remainder being of other races.
The biggest cities
Omaha and Lincoln are two larger cities in Nebraska, the rest of the country are small towns with up to 50,000 inhabitants. The largest cities in the lists are as of the 2010 census and rounded.
- Omaha 409,000
- Lincoln 258,000
- Bellevue 50,000
- Grand Island 49,000
- Kearney 31,000
Weather and climatic conditions
The climate in Nebraska is characterized by continental influences. The winters are cold, but in the summer the temperatures climb quite a bit. Spring is relatively cool, while autumn is quite pleasant. The warm air from the Gulf can build up to hurricanes in summer. However, in winter, from late November to early March, blizzards can also occur in the region. We would therefore consider autumn to be the best time to travel.
Places to visit
View of the valley from Fort RobinsonClem’s Opera HouseMansion in Browneville
Henry Dorly Zoo and Aquarium
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can explore more than 1,300 different species of animals at Ohio’s premier zoo park. 17 African elephants recently arrived safely in the States from drought-stricken Swaziland as part of an ongoing rescue mission. Of these, the zoo has taken in six animals that will now live in part of the African Grasslands, a $73 million project. This means that the zoo has the largest herd of elephants in North America. The African grasslands offer breathtaking panoramic views and sweeping views of meadows teeming with African animals. This attraction opens for Memorial Day weekend. With the zoo and Imax ticket you can also visit the new Imax cinema.
Sunken Gardens
This garden was built in Lincoln in the 1930s. It is the only garden in Nebraska to be included in the list of the 300 most beautiful gardens in North America. Charles Bartlett Hester was responsible for the construction, a project for unemployed men during the Depression. Since there were many natural stones in it, the park was called “Rock Garden” at the time. The garden has two reflecting pools and a waterfall. It was last extensively renovated in 2005 and will show itself in the most beautiful guise from mid-spring.
Old Market in Omaha
The Old Market is a neighborhood in downtown Omaha bounded by South 10th Street on the east, 13th Street on the west, Farnam Street on the north, and Jackson Street on the south. The neighborhood has many restaurants, art galleries and upscale shops. Turn-of-the-century brick streets and quaint horse-drawn carriages can be found alongside a variety of street performers and artisans. The fronts of the houses are also clad in the style of the brick buildings known from England.
Fort Kearny State Historical Park
The historic national park lies on the south bank of the River Kearny. The palisade fence and the smithy were painstakingly reconstructed. Here was once a station for the Pony Express and a stop for the overland carriages. It was here that the workers who built the Union Pacific railroad took a long vacation from the rigors of everyday sleeper pushing.
Visiting Mormons
The history of the Mormons and their migration to western America to the “Promised Land” in Utah is one of the important historical events in the United States. If you are interested in American history, you will be fascinated by the Mormon Museum, located in Winter Quarters near Ohio.
Clem’s Opera House
The Gresham Opera House has served as a venue for theatrical and musical performances, lectures and films. It also provided a venue for community meetings, high school freshmen, farmers, institutes, and political party meetings.