Images

Since 1931, Rugby, North Dakota, has been recognized as the geographical center of North America. A 15-foot tall rock obelisk, flanked by poles flying the United States and Canadian flags, marks the location.

Capital Bismarck

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 779,094

Crater Lake, in south-central Oregon, is the deepest lake in the United States and was formed in the remains of an ancient volcano. The lake is widely known for its intense blue color and spectacular views.

Capital Salem

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 4,237,256

Arizona is blessed with many natural wonders including the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell/Rainbow Bridge, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, Monument Valley, Meteor Crater, and Superstition Mountain.

Capital Phoenix

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 7,151,502

Delaware is known as the “First State,” because it was the first of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the United States Constitution.

Capital Dover

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 989,948

Number of Pixels 5,788,036

Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of the Acadians who were driven out of Canada in the 1700s because they would not pledge allegiance to the King of England.

Capital Baton Rouge

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 4,657,757

The West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine is the easternmost point in the 48 conterminous states. The first structure was built in 1808 by order of President Thomas Jefferson. The current brick lighthouse was built in 1858.

Capital Augusta

Image Source Landsat 8

Hernando DeSoto, a Spanish explorer, discovered the Mississippi River in 1540. It is the largest river in the United States and is the country’s chief waterway. Its nickname is “Old Man River.”

Capital Jackson

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 2,961,279

Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state. Many of the 250,000 American Indians living in Oklahoma are descended from the original 67 tribes who inhabited Indian Territory. Oklahoma is tribal headquarters for 39 tribes.

Capital Oklahoma City

Image Source Landsat 8

Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston harbor marks the site of the first hostilities of the Civil War in April, 1861.

Capital Columbia

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 5,118,425

Number of Pixels 89,542,287

Mount St. Helens in southeast Washington erupted on May 18, 1980. The volcano and 110,000 acres of surrounding land are now part of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Capital Olympia

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 7,705,281

Wisconsin has more than 15,000 lakes. It also has 7,446 streams and rivers, which if placed end to end would stretch nearly 27,000 miles–more than enough to circle the globe at the equator.

Capital Madison

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 5,893,718

Wyoming is home to the country’s first official national park–Yellowstone, the country’s first national forest–Shoshone, and the country’s first national monument–Devil’s Tower.

Capital Cheyenne

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 576,851

This Lidar scan shows the South Dakota Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. 

The EROS Cal/Val Center of Excellence (ECCOE) provides system and data quality research in support of the USGS National 3D Elevation Program.

Denver, the capital of Colorado, is known as the “Mile High City.” The thirteenth step of the capitol building is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level.

Capital Denver

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 5,773,714

Number of Pixels 299,555,595

Groton, Connecticut is home to the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered ship and the first to reach the North Pole, a feat accomplished in 1958. The Nautilus is on display at the Submarine Force Museum.

Capital Hartford

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 3,605,944

More major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state, therefore, it is known as “The Crossroads of America.” Indiana also has more miles of Interstate Highway per square mile than any other state.

Capital Indianapolis

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 6,785,528

Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined. It is sometimes called the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but it actually has 12,000 lakes, three-fourths of which are four hectares (10 acres) or more in size.

Capital St. Paul

Image Source Landsat 8

Lakes and rivers make up only 0.002 percent of New Mexico’s total surface area–the lowest water-to-land ratio of all fifty states. Most of New Mexico’s lakes are human-made reservoirs.

Capital Santa Fe

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 2,117,522

The first commercial oil well in the United States was drilled by Edwin Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859. Pennsylvania produced nearly half of the world’s supply of oil until the Texas oil boom in 1901.

Capital Harrisburg

Image Source Landsat 8

Population 13,002,700

Tennessee has had several nicknames, but the most popular is the “Volunteer State.” The nickname originated during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed marked valor in the Battle of New Orleans.

Capital Nashville

Image Source Landsat 8

Wildfires burned across Lebanon in mid-October 2019. A pair of images taken just 10 days apart by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2A satellite show the burn scar from one of the larger wildfires.