With a total population of more than 64 million, the Midwest comprises North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Rolling hills and farmland, as well as large metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee, characterize these states.
The region also includes the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and many smaller lakes and rivers that provide a variety of recreational opportunities. The area's population is concentrated in and near the large cities, with the states in the western portion of the region having far fewer people than those in the eastern portion.
The Midwest is also known as America's Heartland and is famous for its friendly, outgoing people, small towns, and variable weather. Winters are quite cold, and snow is common. Temperatures at or even below freezing are not unusual during the winter months of December, January, and February, particularly in the northernmost states. Summer, on the other hand, is hot and humid, with temperatures often above 90 degrees F (32 degrees C).