The US state of Montana on the border with Canada is particularly suitable for visitors who are interested in beautiful landscapes. Large parts of Montana are dominated by the Rocky Mountains, which is great for hiking and climbing. Historically interested travelers come to Montana to visit one or more of the five reserves in which the members of the old tribes still live today and in some cases still follow their traditions. In the reserves you can learn a lot about the indigenous peoples and their way of life.

Another major tourist attraction in Montana is the famous Yellowstone National Park. There is also an old ghost town in Montana, which is worth a visit and museums with very different focuses: The museum about Indians, their way of life and their traditions is particularly interesting.

Of course, the big cities in Montana are also worth a visit and inspire with imposing buildings, but also with numerous shopping opportunities and the chance to experience the American way of live up close.

According to ebizdir, Montana is a special state. Even if it is not by the sea, there is a lot to offer visitors, especially if you are enthusiastic about nature and an impressive history. There is really plenty of that in Montana.

Most tourists come to Montana for the beautiful national parks. In addition to the aforementioned Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park is also well visited. The ghost town of Nevada City isn’t just a deserted place. Here you can experience and feel what life must have been like a few centuries ago. The houses are practically in their original condition and you quickly get the impression that the residents are just running a few errands and coming back soon.

Montana – key data

Land area: 381,156 sq km (4th place in all US states)

Share of water surface: 1%

Population: 967,440 residents (2008 estimate, ranked 44th of all states in the United States)

Population density: 2.5 residents per square kilometer (48th place of all states in the USA)

Member of the USA since: November 8, 1889 (41st state in the USA)

Capital: Helena (25,780 residents, 2000, metropolitan area 67,636)

Largest city: Billings (101,876 residents, 2007, metropolitan region 179,113 residents)

Highest point: 3,904 m, Granite Peak

Lowest point: 549 m, Kootenai River

Governor: Brian Schweitzer (Democrat)

Lieut. Governor: John Bohlinger (Republican)

Local time: CET -8 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -7 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -8 h ​​in both winter and summer.

Postal abbreviation: MT

Montana geography and map

Montana – the capital is Helena – is located in the northwest of the United States of America. The largest city in the state is Billings. Montana, often referred to as the Treasure State, has rich mineral deposits such as coal, copper, silver and gold.
Crossed by the Rocky Mountains, Montana is one of the so-called Mountain States. The vast mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains extend over a length of about 5,000 kilometers, from Mexico to Canada and Alaska. The highest mountain in the Fold Mountains is Mount McKinley in Alaska, which is 6,194 meters high. Other US states that belong to this region are Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho.

The Montana area covers an area of ​​380,156 square kilometers and averages 1,035 meters above sea level. Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States. The highest point in the state is the 3,904 meter high Granite Peak. The lowest point of Montana is 549 meters above sea level on the Kootenai River.
In the north, the state of Montana borders the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Neighbors to the east are North Dakota and South Dakota. Montana shares a border with Wyoming to the south and Idaho to the southwest and west.

The major rivers of Montana are the Missouri River and the Milk River. The 4,130-kilometer-long Missouri River is the longest tributary of the Mississippi River and longer than the stream into which it flows. It is also the longest river in the USA. The Milk River rises in northwest Montana and is an approximately 1,173 kilometer long tributary of the Missouri River. Also worth mentioning are the approximately 386 kilometers long Flathead River and the Yellowstone River. The 1,114-kilometer tributary of the Missouri River got its name because of the yellowish color of its bank rock. According to the Guinness Book Entry, the shortest river in the world runs in Montana: the Roe River. The 61-meter long river runs in Giant Spring State Park and feeds one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the United States, the Giant Springs.

The landscape in western Montana is dominated by the high and rugged mountains of the Rocky Mountains. In the east of the state, the Great Plains adjoin this. This vast prairie landscape runs through the heart of the United States and covers a total of around two million square kilometers. It extends over Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and North and South Dakota and is one of the largest wheat-growing regions in the United States. In addition, extensive grasslands, traversed by gently rolling hills, are suitable for intensive use for livestock farming.

The most important national park in Montana is the Glacier National Park, located in the north of the state in the Rocky Mountains, with its glaciers and almost undisturbed ecosystems. In addition, Montana has a small portion of Yellowstone National Park. This, founded in 1872, is the oldest national park in the world. Best known for its hot springs – geysers and mud pots – as well as the bison, grizzly bears and wolves that live there, it is named after the Yellowstone River.

Montana Landmarks

Montana has a wide range of sights and attractions to offer for tourists.

In the American state there are some interesting sacred buildings that can be visited. A detour to St. Helena Cathedral, built in the Gothic style, is definitely worthwhile. The cathedral is located in the capital of Montana.

The remains of an earlier religious mission settlement are also worth seeing. The St. Marys Mission from 1897 can be visited in Stevensville.

Our Lady of the Rockies is one of the most fantastic sights in Montana. It is a twenty-seven meter high statue of the Madonna that stands high above the city of Butte.

A must-see is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, built to commemorate the Battle of the Little Bighorn River in 1876. It was intended to commemorate the crushing victory of the Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse against the cavalry regiment under George A. Custer. The national monument was built between 1999 and 2003.

The Big Hole National Battlefield has a very sad history, a lot of blood flowed here. Numerous battles between the American army and the Nez Pece Indians took place in this region.

The State Capitol in Helen is also worth seeing. It was built in 1890 and is now the seat of the state government.

There are also natural beauties to experience in Montana. The state is also home to part of Yellowstone National Park, which is named for the many yellow rocks. The park has been a World Heritage Site since 1978.

A visit to the Glacier National Park is certainly also interesting. There is an impressive landscape here, as well as fantastic flora and fauna. The park was even named an International Peace Park. It is also considered a biosphere reserve and part of the world natural heritage.

The Pictograph Cave State Park near Billings is something special. In the park you can explore a cave system that is over 4500 years old and admire ancient cave drawings.

Another national park in Montana would be Lost Creek State Park.