Higher Education  

Iowa has over thirty colleges and universities, and approximately twenty community colleges. The three state universities are the University of Iowa, in Iowa City; Iowa State University, in Ames; and the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls. Among Iowa's private institutions are Briar Cliff College and Morningside College, in Sioux City; Central University of Iowa, in Pella; Coe College and Mount Mercy College, in Cedar Rapids; Cornell College, in Mount Vernon; Drake University and Grand View College, in Des Moines; Grinnell College, in Grinnell; Luther College, in Decorah; Simpson College, in Indianola; and William Penn College, in Oskaloosa.

Geography

Spread over an area of 145,791 square kilometers, Iowa can be divided into three distinct land regions: the Young Drift Plains, the Driftless Area, and the Dissected Till Plains. The Young Drift Plains, in the north-central part of the state, have some of the world's richest soil. Located in the northeast part of the state, the Driftless Area is a rugged, semimountainous region with cliffs that overlook the Mississippi River. Characterized by rolling hills, the Dissected Till Plains cover the rest of the state. Iowa is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River, and on the west by the Missouri River. The most important river in central Iowa is the Des Moines River, which is a branch of the Mississippi. Iowa's major cities are Des Moines (capital), Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Waterloo. The population of the state is around 2.7 million.

Climate

Iowa has hot, moist summers and harsh, cold winters. The state may experience blizzards in the wintertime and tornadoes during the summer. Temperatures in Des Moines range from an average of -1° C to -11° C in January to an average of 31° C to 19° C in July. In Sioux City, average January temperatures range from -2° C to -13° C  average July temperatures range from 31° C to 18° C. Northern Iowa gets about 66 cm of rainfall annually, while southern Iowa receives about 91 cm. Snowfall in Iowa averages around 76 cm each year.

Cultural Profile

Performing arts organizations in Des Moines include the Des Moines Ballet Company, the Des Moines Community Playhouse, and a symphony orchestra. Other cities boasting symphony orchestras include Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Cedar Falls. Opera performances are scheduled every summer at the Des Moines Metro Opera in Indianola. Concerts and plays take place regularly at the state's many colleges and universities.

Among the state's museums are the Des Moines Art Center; the Davenport Museum of Art; the Sioux City Art Center; the Science Center of Iowa and the State of Iowa Historical Building, in Des Moines; the Science Station, in Cedar Rapids; the Ice House, in Cedar Falls; and the Children's Museum, in Bettendorf.

Recreation

Popular outdoor activities include fishing, swimming, boating, hunting, camping, hiking, biking, skiing and snowmobiling. Iowa has over a hundred state-run parks and recreation areas. The largest state park is Lacey-Keosauqua, in the southwestern part of the state. Other recreation areas include Big Creek, near Polk City; Brushy Creek, near Lehigh; Elk Rock, near Knoxville; Lake Darling, near Brighton; Pleasant Creek, near Palo; Rock Creek, near Kellogg; and Shimek Forest, near Farmington.

Interesting Facts

Iowa ranks first among the states for growing corn, raising hogs, and making farm machinery. The state has the highest literacy rate in the USA. People from Iowa are known as Hawkeyes. Some famous Hawkeyes are Charles Ringling (circus entrepreneur), Eugenie Moore Anderson (first US woman ambassador), John Wayne (movie actor), Grant Wood (painter), and Herbert Hoover (thirty-first president of the United States).