What Is The Largest Island In The World?

Did You Know!

Iowa is the only U.S. state whose eastern and western borders are formed almost entirely by rivers.

The Mississippi River creates nearly the entire eastern border with Illinois and Wisconsin, while the Missouri River forms most of the western border with Nebraska and South Dakota. This makes Iowa unique among all 50 states—no other state has both of its major side borders defined primarily by rivers.

This geographic feature played a major role in Iowa's early settlement, agriculture, and trade, as both rivers served as vital transportation routes during the 19th century. Today, the fertile land between these waterways helps make Iowa one of America's leading producers of corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs.