Geography of Wyoming – The Best Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of Wyoming including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Wyoming.
- Wyoming is a state in the Mountain West sub region of the Western United States. The 10th largest state by area, it is also the least populous and least densely populated state in the contiguous United States.
- It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the south.
- Wyoming’s western half is mostly covered by the ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountains, while the eastern half of the state is high-elevation prairie called the High Plains.
- It is drier and windier than the rest of the country, being split between semi-arid and continental climates with greater temperature extremes. Almost half of the land in Wyoming is owned by the federal government, leading the state to rank 6th by area and fifth by proportion of a state’s land owned by the federal government.
- Federal lands include two national parks – Grand Teton and Yellowstone – two national recreation areas, two national monuments, several national forests, historic sites, fish hatcheries, and wildlife refuges.
- Wyoming’s economy is driven by tourism and the extraction of minerals such as coal, natural gas, oil, and trona.
- Agricultural commodities include barley, hay, livestock, sugar beets, wheat, and wool. It was the first state to allow women the right to vote and become politicians, as well as the first state to elect a female governor.
Geography of Wyoming
Country:
United States
Area:
97,914
Capital:
Cheyenne
Population:
576,851
Bordering Countries:
Bordering countries
Total Size:
Wyoming is bordered by Montana on the north and Utah and Colorado on the south. On the east, Wyoming is bordered by South Dakota and Nebraska. On the west, Wyoming is bordered by Idaho and Utah.
Geographical Coordinates:
Longitude: 107° 40.3’W
Latitude: 42° 58.3’N
World Region or Continent:
North America
General Terrain:
- Wyoming’s outstanding features are its majestic mountains and high plains. Its mean elevation is about 6,700 feet above sea level and even when the mountains are excluded, the average elevation over the southern part of the State is well over 6,000 feet, while much of the northern portion is some 2,500 feet lower.
Geographical Low Point:
The lowest point in Wyoming is the Belle Fourche River at 3,099 feet above sea level.
Geographical High Point:
The highest point in Wyoming is Gannett Peak, in the Wind River Range, at 13,804 feet above sea level.
Climate:
- Wyoming’s climate is generally semi-arid and continental, and is drier and windier in comparison to most of the United States with greater temperature extremes. Much of this is due to the topography of the state.
- Summers in Wyoming are warm with July high temperatures averaging between 85 and 95 °F (29 and 35 °C) in most of the state.
- Average max. temperature °F (°C): 58
- Average min. temperature °F (°C): 31
- Average rainfall inches (mm): 12.8
Major cities in Wyoming :
| Major Cities in Wyoming |
|---|
| Cheyenne |
| Casper |
| Gillette |
| Laramie |
| Rock Springs |
| Sheridan |
| Green River |
| Evanston |
| Riverton |
| Jackson |
| Cody |
| Rawlins |
| Lander |
| Torrington |
| Douglas |
| Powell |
| Ranchettes |
| Worland |
| Buffalo |
| Fox Farm-College |
Major Land forms in Wyoming :
- There are three major geographical land areas in Wyoming: The Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains and the Intermontane (meaning “land between the mountains) Basins. The Great Plains form the eastern part of the state and are characterized by short-grass prairie. This area receives little rainfall.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
Major Rivers in Wyoming:
- Snake River
- Green River
- North Platte River
- Yellowstone River
- Niobrara River
- Little Missouri River
- Bear River
- Wind River/Bighorn River
- Powder River
- Cheyenne River
Major Lakes in Wyoming:
- Yellowstone Lake,
- Glendo Reservoir,
- Bighorn Lake,
- Boysen Reservoir,
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir,
- Seminoe Reservoir,
- Alcova Reservoir,
- Keyhole Reservoir.
Natural Resources:
- Coal,
- Uranium,
- Natural gas, and
- Crude oil.
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
Deserts and xeric shrublands
Oceans:
The Atlantic And Pacific Oceans.
Islands:
- Arizona Island
- Badger Island
- Ball Island
- Big Island
- Boulder Island
- Bush Island
- Carrington Island
- Cow Island
- Dollar Island
- Donoho Point
Mountain Ranges:
- Absaroka Range, Park County, Wyoming
- Badger Hills, Sheridan County, Wyoming
- Badlands Hills, Sweetwater County, Wyoming,
- Bald Range, Uinta County, Wyoming
- Bear Lodge Mountains, Crook County, Wyoming
- Beaver Creek Hills, Sheridan County, Wyoming
- Beartooth Mountains; Park County, Wyoming
- Bighorn Mountains, Johnson County, Wyoming
- Bridger Mountains, Fremont County, Wyoming
- Buck Creek Hills, Niobrara County, Wyoming
Counties of Wyoming:
| Laramie County | Lincoln County |
| Natrona County | Carbon County |
| Campbell County | Converse County |
| Sweetwater County | Goshen County |
| Fremont County | Big Horn County |
| Albany County | Sublette County |
| Sheridan County | Platte County |
| Park County | Johnson County |
| Teton County | Washakie County |
| Uinta County | Crook County |
| Hot Springs County | Weston County |
| Niobrara County |
See Also:
References:
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