The
Northern Highland is a geographical region covering much of the northern territory of the
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of
WisconsinWisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. states. Located in the north-central United States, Wisconsin is considered part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the...
. The region stretches from the state border with
MinnesotaMinnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.2 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the...
in the west to the
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
border in the east, and from
DouglasDouglas County is a county located at the north-west corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,287. Its county seat is Superior.A portion of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is in the county.-History:...
and
BayfieldBayfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population is 15,013. Its county seat is Washburn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Counties in the north to
WoodWood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 75,555. Its county seat is Wisconsin Rapids. The United States Census Bureau's Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Wood County.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and
PortagePortage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 67,182. Its county seat is Stevens Point. The United States Census Bureau's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Portage County.-Geography:...
Counties in the south. While most of northern Wisconsin is within the Northern Highland region, a short belt of land along the coast of
Lake SuperiorLake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by Ontario, Canada and Minnesota, United States, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan...
is not included in the area, and is instead part of the
Lake Superior LowlandIn the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the Lake Superior Lowland, also known as the Superior Coastal Plain, is a geographical region located in the far northern part of the state bordering Lake Superior...
.
The
Northern Highland is a geographical region covering much of the northern territory of the
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of
WisconsinWisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. states. Located in the north-central United States, Wisconsin is considered part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the...
. The region stretches from the state border with
MinnesotaMinnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.2 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the...
in the west to the
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
border in the east, and from
DouglasDouglas County is a county located at the north-west corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,287. Its county seat is Superior.A portion of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is in the county.-History:...
and
BayfieldBayfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population is 15,013. Its county seat is Washburn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Counties in the north to
WoodWood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 75,555. Its county seat is Wisconsin Rapids. The United States Census Bureau's Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Wood County.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and
PortagePortage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 67,182. Its county seat is Stevens Point. The United States Census Bureau's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Portage County.-Geography:...
Counties in the south. While most of northern Wisconsin is within the Northern Highland region, a short belt of land along the coast of
Lake SuperiorLake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by Ontario, Canada and Minnesota, United States, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan...
is not included in the area, and is instead part of the
Lake Superior LowlandIn the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the Lake Superior Lowland, also known as the Superior Coastal Plain, is a geographical region located in the far northern part of the state bordering Lake Superior...
. Outside of Wisconsin, the highland stretches northward in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
through the Upper Peninsula of
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and the
Canadian ShieldThe Canadian Shield — also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien — is a massive geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton...
in
Northern OntarioNorthern Ontario is the part of the province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing....
and
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
to
LabradorLabrador is a region of Atlantic Canada. Together with the island of Newfoundland from which it is separated by the Strait of Belle Isle, it constitutes the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The region is part of the much larger Labrador Peninsula on the Canadian mainland...
and
Hudson BayHudson Bay is a large body of water in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. A smaller offshoot of the bay,...
.
The Northern Highland was once a mountain range similar to the
AlpsThe Alps are one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west....
or
Rocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States. The range's highest peak is Mount Elbert in Colorado at above sea level...
of today. Over hundreds of millions of years, these mountains were worn down and flattened out by
erosionErosion is a gravity driven process that moves solids in the natural environment or their source and deposits them elsewhere...
and glaciation. Today the region is mostly a smooth plain, but it remains higher than the rest of the state and some hilly regions continue to exist. Located near the center of the region,
Timms HillTimms Hill is the highest point in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in north-central Wisconsin in Timms Hill County Park in the Town of Hill in Price County, Timms Hill has an elevation of ....
in
Price CountyPrice County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S...
is the highest point in Wisconsin. It has an elevation of 1,951 feet above sea level. Other hills such as
Rib MountainRib Mountain is a glacially-eroded monadnock in central Wisconsin, located in the Town of Rib Mountain in Marathon County...
also approach this elevation.
Whether hilly or flat, most of the Northern Highland is covered in woodlands. The most common trees of the Northern Highland are the
Sugar MapleAcer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas....
,
AspenAspen is a common name for trees of the Salicaceae family, most of those in a section, Populus sect. Populus, of the Populus genus. Some of the species in the section are:...
, Basswood,
HemlockTsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. The common name hemlock is derived from a perceived similarity in the smell of the crushed foliage to that of the unrelated herb poison hemlock; see hemlock for other senses of the word. Unlike the herb, the species of Tsuga are not poisonous...
, and
Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensis , is a species of birch native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and southern Québec west to Minnesota, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia....
, as well as
RedThe Red Pine is a pine native to northeastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to southeast Manitoba, and south to northern Illinois and Pennsylvania, with a small outlying population in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia...
and
WhiteEastern white pine is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the extreme north of Georgia. It is occasionally known as simply White Pine, Northern White Pine, or Soft Pine...
Pine. A large amount of the forestland in the region is included within the 1,519,800 acre (6,150 km²)
Chequamegon-Nicolet National ForestThe Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a 1,530,647 acre U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Much of the old growth forest in this region was destroyed by logging in the early part of the 20th century...
. State and county forests also cover a significant part of the region, and only a small portion of the land is devoted to agriculture. There are also few urban areas. The largest city in the region is
WausauWausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau....
, with a population of 38,426. Other principal cities include
MerrillMerrill is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,146 at the 2000 census. The city is located to the south of and adjacent to the Town of Merrill....
,
RhinelanderRhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census. Rhinelander is the home of the Hodag, a mythical creature that serves as mascot for the city and for Rhinelander High School. Nicolet Area Technical College and...
, and
LadysmithLadysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. It is the former location of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. For the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus...
. Despite the absence of large cities, tourism is an important part of the local economy. The region’s numerous lakes and forests make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts during the summer season.
Northern Highland Lake District
The Northern Highland Lake District consists of an array of lakes. "This geological
province is characterized by primarily
PrecambrianThe Precambrian is an informal name for the span of time before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is divided into several eons of the geologic timescale. It spans from the formation of Earth around 4500 Ma to the beginning of the Cambrian Period, when macroscopic hard-shelled animals first...
bedrock capped by a thin layer of sedimentary rocks left by the
PaleozoicThe Paleozoic or Palaeozoic Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon...
seas. On top of this are glacial deposits left by the Woodfordian and Valderan substages of the Wisconsin glaciers. The soils are infertile glacial outwash with reduced cation exchange capacity, leaving them susceptible to acidification and
bogA bog or mire is a wetland type that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—usually mosses, but also lichens in Arctic climates....
formation. As the Valderian glaciation (ca. 12,000 years ago) receded, the kettle basins of Paul, Peter, and Tuesday Lakes arose from the melting of blocks of ice in the glacial drift."
Wildlife
The wildlife of the Northern Highlands includes whitetail deer, timber wolves, elk, moose, and bear. With a growing population of the timber wolf, Wisconsin officials have agreed to allow a lottery system for the hunting of these wolves.
Counties in the Northern Highland
Part or all of the land in the following counties is included in the Northern Highland of Wisconsin:
Ashland CountyAshland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It was formed on March 27, 1860, from La Pointe County. As of 2000, the population was 16,866. Its county seat is Ashland.- History :...
Bayfield CountyBayfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population is 15,013. Its county seat is Washburn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Burnett CountyBurnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,674. Its county seat is in the Town of Meenon with the majority of county governmental services located at the Burnett County Government Center....
Chippewa CountyChippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,195. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chippewa County...
Douglas CountyDouglas County is a county located at the north-west corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,287. Its county seat is Superior.A portion of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is in the county.-History:...
Florence CountyFlorence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 5,088. Its county seat is Florence.Florence County is part of the Iron Mountain, MI–WI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Forest CountyForest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 10,024. Its county seat is Crandon.The Forest County Potawatomi Community and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community have reservations in Forest County.-Geography:...
Iron CountyIron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 6,861. Its county seat is Hurley.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Langlade CountyLanglade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 20,740. Its county seat is Antigo.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Lincoln CountyLincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 29,641. Its county seat is Merrill.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Marathon CountyMarathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 125,834. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Marinette CountyMarinette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,384. Its county seat is Marinette.Marinette County is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
Menominee CountyMenominee County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. In 2000, the population was 4,562. Its county seat is Keshena.The county was created on July 3, 1959, in anticipation of the termination of the Menominee Indian Reservation in 1961. The reservation status was restored in 1973, and is...
Oconto CountyOconto County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 35,634. Its county seat is Oconto.Oconto County is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was established in 1851.-Geography:...
Oneida CountyOneida County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 36,776. Its county seat is Rhinelander.-Geography:...
Portage CountyPortage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 67,182. Its county seat is Stevens Point. The United States Census Bureau's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Portage County.-Geography:...
Price CountyPrice County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Rusk CountyRusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,347. Its county seat is Ladysmith. Founded in 1901, Rusk County was originally named "Gates" County. It was formed out of the northern portion of Chippewa County....
Sawyer CountySawyer County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,196. Its county seat is Hayward. The county is named for Philetus Sawyer, who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the 19th century.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Shawano CountyShawano County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 40,664. Its county seat is Shawano.-History:...
Taylor CountyTaylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 19,680. Its county seat is Medford.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Vilas CountyVilas County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 21,033. Its county seat is Eagle River.-Geography:...
Washburn CountyWashburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,036. Its county seat is Shell Lake.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Wood CountyWood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 75,555. Its county seat is Wisconsin Rapids. The United States Census Bureau's Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Wood County.-Geography:According to the U.S...
External links