Montana


Montana is a huge state in the northwest of the U.S.A., more than 1,000 km from the east to the west and 400 km from the north to the south, which results in an area of 381,156 km². In the north it borders Canada for 877 km, it is surrounded by the states North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. Capital is Helena, largest city is Billings. Montana is the only state with a triple divide, which means rain water is flowing into the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay. The meeting point of the three catchment areas is at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park.

The northern and mountaneous State is famous for its nature, landscape, and of course the mining. There are a few limestone caves, one is a show cave, there are lava caves, often with ice, and there are cave paintings. But most of the underground sites are show mines. Subsequent to the Lewis and Clark expeditions rich deposits of gold and copper were discovered in the state.

Butte, is probably the most famous mining town of Montana. In its history it produced copper, a few copper barons and work for legions of miners and other labourers. Copper boomed at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, in 1920 Butte had 100,000 inhabitants. At this time huge amounts of copper was needed for electrification and the price was high. Today Butte has a population of only 34,000, a last operative copper mine operated by Montana Resources, and a National Historic Landmark District. Many mining related sites form this fascinating piece of mining history, including a restored brothel and the World Museum of Mining.