Explore the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the Great Lakes, the Black Hills, and more in the American Midwest
Explore the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the Great Lakes, the Black Hills, and more in the American Midwest
Learn about the different physical landscapes that make up the American Midwest.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about the different physical landscapes that make up the American Midwest.
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© Civil War Trust (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Learn how the American Revolution and the War of 1812 fit into broader global conflicts involving Great Britain and France.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying, perching, and fishing in the Chilkat River valley of southern Alaska.
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© Civil War Trust (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Learn about the major events of the Revolutionary War (1775–83), which won 13 American colonies their political independence from Great Britain.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about the impact invasive kudzu vine (Pueraria montana) has had on the ecosystems of the southeastern United States.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Abraham Lincoln once called the railroad the United States' most important goal.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.National Hispanic Heritage Month is a monthlong celebration in the United States honoring the history, contributions, and achievements of Hispanic Americans.
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© Civil War Trust (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Overview of the Siege of Boston during the American Revolution.
News •
Arctic Blast Impacts Midwest, Northeast, South
• Dec. 20, 2025, 3:25 AM ET (The Weather Channel)
Arctic air mass pushes to the U.S. South; Midwest also bracing for dangerous wind chills
• Dec. 14, 2025, 7:28 AM ET (AP)
The first big snowstorm of the winter hits the Northeast
• Dec. 2, 2025, 1:47 PM ET (AP)
Heavy snow predicted for Northeast as Midwest still struggles with Thanksgiving weather snarls
• Dec. 1, 2025, 6:25 PM ET (AP)
Winter storms bring snow, freezing rain and cold as Thanksgiving travelers journey home
• Nov. 29, 2025, 9:31 PM ET (AP)
Transcript
NARRATOR: The states that comprise the Midwest are Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
[Music in]
The Midwest is located near the center of North America.
The region is bounded on the north by Canada and four of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie.
[Music out]
The Great Lakes are enormous inland seas. They provide fresh water.
Other important waterways include the Ohio River, the Missouri River, and the Mississippi River.
Along with dozens of other rivers and tributaries, these waterways are used to transport grain, ore, lumber, steel, and other goods.
Through Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the northeast region and Canada,
the Midwest is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of the world.
As the region developed, cities sprung up along the Great Lakes and rivers,
convenient places for ships to load and unload cargo and for people to meet, trade, and do business.
Most of the Midwest is vast rolling plains.
The Central Lowland is a saucer-shaped plain. Through it flow the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers.
So much corn is grown here it is known as the "Corn Belt." If you don't see corn,
you'll see soybeans. And if you don't see either,
you're probably further west, where you'll find cattle and wheat on the Great Plains. It's sometimes called the "Wheat Belt."
Bursting through the Great Plains in South Dakota is a dome of rock known as the Black Hills.
The hills get their name from the thick pine forests that darken their slopes.
In one part of the Black Hills, thousands of years of erosion have created the Badlands.
North American Indians of the region considered it sacred land. Today, scientists search for the fossilized remains of prehistoric life in this eerie landscape.
The Ozark Plateau in the southern part of the region is hilly country where crops don't grow very well. But its scenic beauty makes it a natural vacation area.
In the Midwest the winters can be cold and icy,
and the summers can be hot and humid.
But spring and fall are pleasant and mild. It's a nice place to live.
[Music in]
The Midwest is located near the center of North America.
The region is bounded on the north by Canada and four of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie.
[Music out]
The Great Lakes are enormous inland seas. They provide fresh water.
Other important waterways include the Ohio River, the Missouri River, and the Mississippi River.
Along with dozens of other rivers and tributaries, these waterways are used to transport grain, ore, lumber, steel, and other goods.
Through Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the northeast region and Canada,
the Midwest is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of the world.
As the region developed, cities sprung up along the Great Lakes and rivers,
convenient places for ships to load and unload cargo and for people to meet, trade, and do business.
Most of the Midwest is vast rolling plains.
The Central Lowland is a saucer-shaped plain. Through it flow the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers.
So much corn is grown here it is known as the "Corn Belt." If you don't see corn,
you'll see soybeans. And if you don't see either,
you're probably further west, where you'll find cattle and wheat on the Great Plains. It's sometimes called the "Wheat Belt."
Bursting through the Great Plains in South Dakota is a dome of rock known as the Black Hills.
The hills get their name from the thick pine forests that darken their slopes.
In one part of the Black Hills, thousands of years of erosion have created the Badlands.
North American Indians of the region considered it sacred land. Today, scientists search for the fossilized remains of prehistoric life in this eerie landscape.
The Ozark Plateau in the southern part of the region is hilly country where crops don't grow very well. But its scenic beauty makes it a natural vacation area.
In the Midwest the winters can be cold and icy,
and the summers can be hot and humid.
But spring and fall are pleasant and mild. It's a nice place to live.
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