Editing Idaho (section)

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Idaho}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=April 2022}} 
Idaho shares a border with six U.S. states and one Canadian province. The states of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]] are to the west, [[Nevada]] and [[Utah]] are to the south, and Montana and Wyoming are to the east. Idaho also shares a short border with the Canadian province of [[British Columbia]] to the north.<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Idaho |url=https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/USA/idaho_map.htm}}</ref>

[[File:Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Idaho.jpg|thumb|Shoshone Falls]]

The landscape is rugged, with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the United States. For example, at {{convert|2.3|e6acre|ha}}, the [[Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area]] is the largest contiguous area of protected wilderness in the continental United States. Idaho is a [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain]] state with abundant natural resources and scenic areas. The state has snow-capped mountain ranges, rapids, vast lakes and steep canyons. The waters of the [[Snake River]] run through [[Hells Canyon]], the deepest gorge in the United States. [[Shoshone Falls]] falls down cliffs from a height greater than [[Niagara Falls]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Idaho Travel Guide by Visit Idaho - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/visitidaho/docs/2015-travel-guide |website=issuu.com |date=February 13, 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

By far, the most important river in Idaho is the Snake River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Snake River flows from [[Yellowstone]] in northwestern [[Wyoming]] through the [[Snake River Plain]] in southern Idaho before turning north, leaving the state at [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]] before joining the Columbia in [[Kennewick]]. Other major rivers are the [[Clark Fork (river)|Clark Fork]]/[[Pend Oreille River]], the [[Spokane River]], and, many major tributaries of the Snake River, including the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]], the [[Salmon River (Idaho)|Salmon River]], the [[Boise River]], and the [[Payette River]]. The Salmon River empties into the Snake in Hells Canyon and forms the southern boundary of Nez Perce County on its north shore, of which Lewiston is the county seat. The Port of [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]], at the confluence of the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater]] and the Snake Rivers is the farthest inland [[seaport]] on the West Coast at 465&nbsp;[[river mile]]s from the Pacific at [[Astoria, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2812.html |title=Port of Lewiston |publisher=US history |access-date=July 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622052243/http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2812.html |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The vast majority of Idaho's population lives in the Snake River Plain, a valley running from across the entirety of southern Idaho from east to west. The valley contains the major cities of [[Boise]], [[Meridian, Idaho|Meridian]], [[Nampa, Idaho|Nampa]], [[Caldwell, Idaho|Caldwell]], [[Twin Falls, Idaho|Twin Falls]], [[Idaho Falls]], and [[Pocatello]]. The plain served as an easy pass through the Rocky Mountains for westward-bound settlers on the [[Oregon Trail]], and many settlers chose to settle the area rather than risking the treacherous route through the [[Blue Mountains (Pacific Northwest)|Blue Mountains]] and the [[Cascade Range]] to the west. The western region of the plain is known as the [[Treasure Valley]], bound between the [[Owyhee Mountains]] to the southwest and the [[Boise Mountains]] to the northeast. The central region of the Snake River Plain is known as the [[Magic Valley]].

[[File:Edna Lake.JPG|thumb|Edna Lake, Sawtooth Mountains]]

Idaho's highest point is [[Borah Peak]], {{convert|12662|ft|0|abbr=on}}, in the [[Lost River Range]] north of [[Mackay, Idaho|Mackay]]. Idaho's lowest point, {{convert|710|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, is in [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]], where the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]] joins the [[Snake River]] and continues into Washington. The [[Sawtooth Range (Idaho)|Sawtooth Range]] is often considered Idaho's most famous mountain range.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.idahoaclimbingguide.com/id27.htm |title= Sawtooth Range |publisher= Idaho climbing guide |access-date= July 30, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615075042/http://www.idahoaclimbingguide.com/id27.htm |archive-date= June 15, 2011}}</ref> Other mountain ranges in Idaho include the [[Bitterroot Range]], the [[White Cloud Mountains]], the [[Lost River Range]], the [[Clearwater Mountains]], and the [[Salmon River Mountains]].

[[Salmon-Challis National Forest]] is located in the east central sections of the state, with Salmon National Forest to the north and Challis National Forest to the south. The forest is in an area known as the Idaho Cobalt Belt, which consists of a {{convert|34|mile|km|adj=}} long [[geological formation]] of [[sedimentary rock]] that contains some of the largest [[cobalt]] deposits in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Idaho Is Sitting on One of the Most Important Elements on Earth |author=Michael Holtz |date=24 Jan 2022 |website=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/01/cobalt-clean-energy-climate-change-idaho/621321/}}</ref>

Idaho has two [[Time in the United States|time zones]], with the dividing line approximately midway between Canada and [[Nevada]]. Southern Idaho, including the [[Boise metropolitan area]], [[Idaho Falls, Idaho|Idaho Falls]], [[Pocatello, Idaho|Pocatello]], and [[Twin Falls, Idaho|Twin Falls]], are in the [[Mountain Time Zone]]. A legislative error ({{usctc|15|6}} §264) theoretically placed this region in the [[Central Time Zone]], but this was corrected with a 2007 amendment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C6.txt |id=264 |title=Part of Idaho in fourth zone |publisher=House of representatives |place=Washington, D.C., U.S. |website=U.S. Code |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060125180343/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C6.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2006 }}</ref> Areas north of the [[Salmon River (Idaho)|Salmon River]], including [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]], [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]], [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]], and [[Sandpoint, Idaho|Sandpoint]], are in the [[Pacific Time Zone]], which contains less than a quarter of the state's population and land area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Idaho (ID) time zone |url=https://whichtimezone.com/usa/idaho/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=WhichTimezone |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Köppen Climate Types Idaho.png|left|thumb|300x300px|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Idaho, using 1991–2020 [[Climatological normal|climate normals]]]]
Idaho's [[climate]] varies widely. Although the state's western border is about {{convert|330|mi|-1}} from the Pacific Ocean, the maritime influence is still felt in Idaho; especially, in the winter when cloud cover, [[humidity]], and [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] are at their maximum extent. This influence has a moderating effect in the winter where temperatures are not as low as would otherwise be expected for a northern state with predominantly high elevations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm | title = Climate of Idaho | website = WRCC | publisher = DRI | date = February 20, 1954 | access-date = July 30, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110909133342/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm | archive-date = September 9, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref> In the panhandle, moist air masses from the coast are released as precipitation over the [[North Central Rockies forests]], creating the [[North American inland temperate rainforest]].<ref>{{cite web| last =Woodward| first = Susan L.| title = Inland Rainforests of the Northwest| publisher = Radford University| date= 2012–2015| url = https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=2286| access-date = May 4, 2021}}</ref> The maritime influence is least prominent in the state's eastern part where the precipitation patterns are often reversed, with wetter summers and drier winters, and seasonal temperature differences are more extreme, showing a more semi-arid [[continental climate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm|title=Climate of Idaho|website=Western Regional Climate Center|access-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120183856/https://wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm|archive-date=November 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Idaho can be hot, although extended periods over {{convert|98|°F|°C|abbr=on}} are rare, except for the lowest point in elevation, [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]], which correspondingly sees little snow. Hot summer days are tempered by the low relative humidity and cooler evenings during summer months since, for most of the state, the highest [[Day|diurnal]] difference in temperature is often in the summer.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm |title= Climate of Idaho |website= WRCC—DRI |date= February 20, 1954 |access-date= January 23, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170221052600/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/IDAHO.htm |archive-date= February 21, 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref> Winters can be cold, although extended periods of bitter cold weather below zero are unusual. Idaho's all-time highest temperature of {{convert|118|F|C}} was recorded at [[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]] on July 28, 1934; the all-time lowest temperature of {{convert|-60|F|C}} was recorded at [[Island Park Dam]] on January 18, 1943.

{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;background:#E8EAFA;" |Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Idaho cities. (°F)
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000; height:17px;" | City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jan
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Feb
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Mar
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Apr
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jun
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jul
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Aug
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Sep
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Oct
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Nov
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Dec
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;" | Boise
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 38/24
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 45/27
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 55/33
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 62/38
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 72/46
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 81/53
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 91/59
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 90/59
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 79/50
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 65/40
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 48/31
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 38/23
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;" | Lewiston
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 42/30
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 47/32
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 55/36
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 62/41
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 72/48
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 79/54
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 91/61
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 90/60
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 80/52
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 63/42
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 49/35
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 41/30
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;" | Pocatello
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 33/16
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 38/19
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 49/27
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 59/33
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 68/40
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 78/46
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 88/52
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 88/51
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 76/42
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 62/33
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 45/24
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;" | 33/16
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;" | Orofino
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 38/25
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 46/28
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 55/32
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 64/38
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 72/44
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 80/50
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 89/54
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 90/53
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 79/45
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 63/36
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 46/31
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;" | 37/26
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;" |''<ref>{{Citation | title = Weather Idaho | url = http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-idaho/ | publisher = US travel weather | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705032338/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-idaho/ | archive-date = July 5, 2007}}.</ref>''
|}

===Lakes and rivers===
{{See also|List of rivers of Idaho}}
[[File:Lakecoeurdalenebig.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Coeur d'Alene]] in North Idaho]]
[[File:Redfish lake.JPG|thumb|right|[[Redfish Lake]] in central Idaho]]
[[File:Checkerboard forest in Idaho.jpg|alt=Priest River winds through mountains with a checkerboard design of trees to its east|thumb|[[Priest River]] winding through Whitetail Butte]]

<!-- Only notable from full list -->
{{div col|content=

* [[Clark Fork River]]
* [[Alturas Lake]]
* [[Bear River (Great Salt Lake)|Bear River]]
* [[Bear Lake (Idaho–Utah)]]
* [[Boise River]] 
* [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]]
* [[Hayden Lake]]
* [[Henry's Lake]]
* [[Kootenai River]]
* [[Lake Cascade]]
* [[Lake Cleveland]]
* [[Lake Coeur d'Alene]]
* [[Lake Lowell]]
* [[Lake Walcott]]
* [[Lake Pend Oreille|Pend Oreille]] - Largest in Idaho
* [[Little Redfish Lake]]
* [[Lucky Peak Lake]]
* [[Moyie River]]
* [[North Fork Clearwater River]]
* [[Pack River]]
* [[Payette Lake]], (McCall)
* [[Pettit Lake]]
* [[Priest Lake]]
* [[Perkins Lake]]
* [[Portneuf River (Idaho)|Portneuf River]]
* [[Redfish Lake]]
* [[Salmon River (Idaho)|Salmon River]]
* [[Sawtooth Lake]]
* [[Snake River]] - Longest
* [[Stanley Lake]]
* [[St. Joe River]]
* [[Warm Lake]]
}}

===Protected areas===
{{See also|National Parks in Idaho}}
As of 2018:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stateparks.com/idaho_parks_and_recreation_destinations.html|title=List of parks in Idaho|website=www.stateparks.com}}</ref>

====National parks, reserves, monuments and historic sites====
{{Div col}}
* [[Salmon-Challis National Forest]]
* [[California National Historic Trail]]
* [[City of Rocks National Reserve]]
* [[Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve]]
* [[Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument]]
* [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]]
* [[Minidoka National Historic Site]]
* [[Nez Perce National Historical Park]]
* [[Oregon National Historic Trail]]
* [[Yellowstone National Park]]
* [[Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail]]
{{Div col end}}

====National recreation areas====
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Hells Canyon National Recreation Area]]
* [[Sawtooth National Recreation Area]]
}}

====National wildlife refuges and Wilderness Areas====
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Camas National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness|Frank Church—River of No Return Wilderness Area]]
* [[Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge]]
}}

====National conservation areas====
* [[Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area]]

[[File:DSCN6179 bearlake e.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bear Lake (Idaho–Utah)|Bear Lake]] viewed from [[Bear Lake State Park (Idaho)|Bear Lake State Park]]]]

====State parks====
[[File:Bruneau Dunes State Park.jpg|thumb|[[Bruneau Dunes State Park]]]]
{{See also|List of Idaho state parks}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Bear Lake State Park (Idaho)|Bear Lake State Park]]
* [[Bruneau Dunes State Park]]
* [[Castle Rocks State Park]]
* [[City of Rocks National Reserve]]
* [[Coeur d'Alene Parkway State Park]]
* [[Dworshak State Park]]
* [[Eagle Island State Park (Idaho)|Eagle Island State Park]]
* [[Farragut State Park]]
* [[Harriman State Park (Idaho)|Harriman State Park]]
* [[Hells Gate State Park]]
* [[Henrys Lake State Park]]
* [[Heyburn State Park]]
* [[Lake Cascade State Park]]
* [[Lake Walcott State Park]]
* [[Land of the Yankee Fork State Park]]
* [[Lucky Peak State Park]]
* [[Massacre Rocks State Park]]
* [[McCroskey State Park]]
* [[Old Mission State Park]]
* [[Ponderosa State Park]]
* [[Priest Lake State Park]]
* [[Round Lake State Park]]
* [[Thousand Springs State Park]]
* [[Three Island Crossing State Park]]
* [[Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes]]
* [[Winchester Lake State Park]]
}}