Kansas

The Midwestern state of Kansas sits at the center of the United States in what is known as the "Heartland." This beautiful countryside is known best for its wide open spaces. Except for a few large cities, Kansas has remained covered in farmlands, rolling prairies, and isolated rock formations. It is one of the most productive agricultural states in wheat as well as sunflowers. The western two-thirds of the state are part of the Great Central Plains of the United States and are almost entirely flat all the way to Colorado. The northeastern corner is known as the Dissected Till Plains. Here the land is a little more varied with high bluffs. The southeastern corner is mostly flat but with more forested areas. Such wide open space lends itself to an almost entirely rural lifestyle. As such, Kansas has been experiencing what is known as rural flight since the Great Depression. People from small towns all over Kansas have in the past and continue to migrate to more metropolitan areas. As a result, Kansas is home to over 6000 ghost towns. The many state parks are much less developed than those in other parts of the country. The Castle Rock Badlands, in the northern part of the state, have very little traffic and are entirely undeveloped making the beautiful limestone pillars all the more serene. An ancient sea left behind these fascinating structures that are unfortunately rapidly weathering and will not likely last much longer. A more popular tourist attraction, Cheney State Park, surrounds Cheney Reservoir which is one of the top sailing lakes in the nation. Also the three largest cities in the state, Wichita, Overton Park and Topeka, all are full of historic sites, museums and attractions.