Editing Des Moines, Iowa (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Des Moines Iowa.jpg|thumb|Astronaut photography of Des Moines taken from the [[International Space Station]]]]
[[File:Des Moines, Iowa aerial 01A.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Des Moines, 2012]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|90.65|sqmi|sqkm|2}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gazetteer files, 2015 |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2015_Gazetteer/2015_gaz_place_19.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306204611/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2015_Gazetteer/2015_gaz_place_19.txt |archive-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> of which {{convert|88.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is covered by water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{Cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2015 |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2015_Gazetteer/2015_gaz_place_19.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306204611/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2015_Gazetteer/2015_gaz_place_19.txt |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=July 5, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> It is {{Convert|850|ft|m}} above sea level at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers.

In November 2005, Des Moines voters approved a measure that allowed the city to annex parcels of land in the northeast, southeast, and southern corners of Des Moines without agreement by local residents, particularly areas bordering the [[Iowa Highway 5]]/[[U.S. Route 65 in Iowa|U.S. 65]] bypass. The annexations became official on June 26, 2009, as {{cvt|5174|acre|sqkm}} and around 868 new residents were added to the city of Des Moines.<ref name="annex">{{Cite web |last=City of Des Moines |title=Annexation |url=http://www.dmgov.org/NewsDocuments/Annexation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726001335/http://www.dmgov.org/NewsDocuments/Annexation.pdf |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2011}}</ref> An additional {{cvt|759 |acre|sqkm}} were voluntarily annexed to the city over that same period.<ref name=annex/>

===Metropolitan area===
{{main|Des Moines metropolitan area}}

===Cityscape===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Iowa}}
{{wide image|Des Moines c1907 LOC pan 6a05088.jpg|700px|align-cap=center|A 1906 panorama, with the [[Iowa State Capitol]] in center}}
[[File:DesMoinesIowaSkyline.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Downtown Des Moines night skyline looking northwest]]
The skyline of Des Moines changed in the 1970s and the 1980s, when several new skyscrapers were built. Additional skyscrapers were built in the 1990s, including Iowa's tallest. Before then, the 19-story [[Equitable Building (Des Moines)|Equitable Building]], from 1924, was the tallest building in the city and the tallest building in Iowa. The 25-story [[Financial Center]] was completed in 1973 and the 36-story [[Ruan Center]] was completed in 1974. They were later joined by the 33-story [[Des Moines Marriott Hotel]] (1981), the 25-story [[HUB Tower]] and 25-story [[Plaza Building (Des Moines, Iowa)|Plaza Building]] (1985). Iowa's tallest building, [[Principal Financial Group]]'s 45-story tower at [[801 Grand]] was built in 1991, and the 19-story [[EMC Insurance Building]] was erected in 1997.

During this time period, the [[Civic Center of Greater Des Moines]] (1979) was developed; it hosts Broadway shows and special events. Also constructed were the [[Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden]] (1979), a large city botanical garden/greenhouse on the east side of the river; the [[Iowa Events Center#Polk County Convention Complex|Polk County Convention Complex]] (1985), and the State of Iowa Historical Museum (1987). The Des Moines [[skyway|skywalk]] also began to take shape during the 1980s. The skywalk system is {{convert|4|mi}} long and connects many downtown buildings.<ref>[http://www.seedesmoines.com/get_around/skywalks.php Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605120927/http://www.seedesmoines.com/get_around/skywalks.php |date=June 5, 2010 }}. Seedesmoines.com (July 21, 1998). Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.gannett.com/about/map/ataglance/desmoin.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516164756/http://www.gannett.com/about/map/ataglance/desmoin.htm|date=May 16, 2010}}</ref>

In the early 21st century, the city has had more major construction in the downtown area. The new [[Science Center of Iowa]] and Blank IMAX Dome Theater and the [[Iowa Events Center]] opened in 2005. The new central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, designed by renowned architect [[David Chipperfield]] of London, opened on April 8, 2006.

The [[World Food Prize]] Foundation, which is based in Des Moines, completed adaptation and restoration of the [[Public Library of Des Moines|former Des Moines Public Library]] building in October 2011. The former library now serves as the home and headquarters of the [[Norman Borlaug]]/World Food Prize Hall of Laureates.

===Climate===
At the center of North America and far removed from large bodies of water, the Des Moines area has a hot summer type [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa''), with warm to hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Summer temperatures can often climb into the {{convert|90|°F|0}} range, occasionally reaching {{convert|100|°F|0}}. Humidity can be high in spring and summer, with frequent afternoon [[thunderstorm]]s. Fall brings pleasant temperatures and colorful [[fall foliage]]. Winters vary from moderately cold to bitterly cold, with low temperatures venturing below {{convert|0|°F}} quite often. Snowfall averages {{convert|36.5|in|cm|0}} per season, and annual precipitation averages {{convert|36.55|in|mm|0}}, with a peak in the warmer months. Winters are slightly colder than [[Chicago]], but still warmer than [[Minneapolis]], with summer temperatures being very similar between the [[Upper Midwest]] metropolitan areas.

{{Des Moines, Iowa weatherbox}}