What Strange Thing Do Sea Otters Do When They Sleep?

Did You Know!

Rarely Known Iowa Fact: Iowa has one of the most unusual border setups in America because it is the only U.S. state whose eastern and western edges are shaped almost entirely by rivers. On the east, Iowa is bordered by the mighty Mississippi River, while the west is lined by the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River.

This natural river boundary system helped shape Iowa’s history, trade routes, and settlement patterns long before highways existed. Steamboats once carried goods and travelers along these waterways, making river towns some of the earliest economic hubs in the region. Because rivers naturally shift over time, parts of Iowa’s borders have even changed slightly through the years, creating unique legal and geographic stories. It’s a little-known detail that makes Iowa stand out from every other state in the nation.