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The EPA considers the bulk of Iowa "great plains". Granted, it's a large area with a lot of biological diversity, but when you compare the other classifications, it's a far better fit there than any other of the identified areas.
Once the corn and soybeans mature in Iowa, in the fall, it appears very dry and dead. Like how Oklahoma and Kansas appear lush while the wheat is green and growing, Iowa is the same when the corn is growing. I remember thinking OK was a dry (almost) desert, until I visited in April. It looked a lot like home in May/June.
If you traveled Iowa in October vs. July you would come away with two differing opinions of how lush it is.
Iowa is green as can be when the corn stalks are up. And the sun is really bright off the yellow stalks after they cut them down. The wheat doesn't get as tall as the corn and we don't get that bright glimmer in the fall. I always enjoyed going to watch Oklahoma play ISU in Ames in the fall in football. This year it is probably going to be just before harvest or right at the beginning. So it's going to be green.
As far as comparing Oklahoma to that part of the country, It always seemed like the eastern part of Nebraska looked like central Oklahoma/Kansas/Iowa. But eastern South and North Dakota looked much more like parts western Oklahoma. Much more wide open than even eastern Nebraska.
Again, I vote Iowa IF you include ND, SD, Nebraska, Kansas and whatever part of Oklahoma is considered midwest (if any). But if you don't include those gotta go with Illinois or Indiana.
Iowa is green as can be when the corn stalks are up. And the sun is really bright off the yellow stalks after they cut them down. The wheat doesn't get as tall as the corn and we don't get that bright glimmer in the fall. I always enjoyed going to watch Oklahoma play ISU in Ames in the fall in football. This year it is probably going to be just before harvest or right at the beginning. So it's going to be green.
As far as comparing Oklahoma to that part of the country, It always seemed like the eastern part of Nebraska looked like central Oklahoma/Kansas/Iowa. But eastern South and North Dakota looked much more like parts western Oklahoma. Much more wide open than even eastern Nebraska.
Again, I vote Iowa IF you include ND, SD, Nebraska, Kansas and whatever part of Oklahoma is considered midwest (if any). But if you don't include those gotta go with Illinois or Indiana.
I think we're going to start soybean harvest on the literal day of the ISU/OU game.
FWIW, I think the eastern Dakotas look really similar to Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and that north central part of Oklahoma. As you go west, it looks more like western OK (Nebraska and Kansas too). No part of Iowa quite looks like the western parts of those states, where the elevation increases and the rains really fall off.
Wow..... take a breath. I know you believe deeply that the two regions are similar but most folks just do not agree. I won’t restate my previous post (I’m sure it’s one of the”half baked” ones your referring too) but I will add that I have traveled extensively through both regions and just see little similarities. You mentioned Lake Ontario, well do you realizemost midweaterners, even trAditional western Great Lakes Wisconsinites or Michiganians have NEVER seen Lake Ontario and know very little about it other than it’s way to the east.
I also acknowledged whee I see accuracy in your post regarding New Yorkers settling Michigan and Wisconsin. The place names mark their presence in the history of the Midwest. I believe you could also say the Yankee focus on education was brought West with them and remains part of Midwestern culture. I believe however other than place names and a dedication to education you have to say Yankee influences in the Midwest are very limited and the Midwest and Northeast are today very different places.
Your right when you say people don’t like the Northeast. The reputation of Northeast residents as brash, rude aggressive types who are obsessed with the pursuit of wealth is persistent. Liberalism and socialism are also associated with Northeastern people and the idea that they intend to force everyone to believe and live like them. These stereotypes have led many Americans especially in the Midwest and even more the South to dislike, distrust and avoid the Northeast. This is not fair no doubt but I am acknowledging that you have a point when you say people don’t like the Northeast.
I'm from Michigan, and my experience is that places with similar demographics aren't really that much different between the Midwest and the Northeast. Suburban Philadelphia is pretty similar to suburban Detroit, for example. There are some cultural differences but they aren't that major, and I haven't felt culture shock in the Northeast really apart from Manhattan proper, and that's mostly just because it's really crowded.
To be fair though, suburban Dallas and Houston don't really feel that much different than Midwest suburbs either.
I'm from Michigan, and my experience is that places with similar demographics aren't really that much different between the Midwest and the Northeast. Suburban Philadelphia is pretty similar to suburban Detroit, for example. There are some cultural differences but they aren't that major, and I haven't felt culture shock in the Northeast really apart from Manhattan proper, and that's mostly just because it's really crowded.
To be fair though, suburban Dallas and Houston don't really feel that much different than Midwest suburbs either.
Suburbs everywhere feel the same. Only difference is the scenery of the geographic area. This is why a lot of people detest suburbs, they all feel the same.
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