America's Dairyland. The nation's leading producer of milk and cheese. In automibile production Wisconsin is second only to Michigan. In Milwaukee, it is beer.

Wisconsin's topography naturally divides the state into three distinct regions. Southern Wisconsin being the most densely populated with the state's largest cities ie. Madison, Kenosha, and Milwaukee. The first area to be settled by pioneers heading west from Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

Central Wisconsin is flat and sandy. Sandwiched between Lake Michigan (in the east) and the Mississippi River (to the west). A region which contains thousands of inland lakes and hundreds of small rural towns. The lakes offering some of the best freshwater fishing for walleye and northern pike in America. Numerous tackle stores and outfitters are available to prepare you for this outdoor adventure. Wisconsin's largest inland lake and one of the state's most popular destinations is Lake Winnebago.

Traveling northward from the center of the state are the dense forests surrounding Lake Superior. Lake Superior holds one-eighth of all the freshwater on earth and is the world's largest freshwater lake. Formed by ancient glaciers which scoured out huge tracts of land as they moved across the frozen tundra thousands of years ago. Its majestic shoreline is a testimony to this glacial activity. Strewn with boulders and red sandstone cliffs which can be seen towering over the lakeshore.

The first European explorers to reach Wisconsin's shores were French. Canoesmen or "voyageurs" as they were called for their wide ranging hunting expeditions. The first of whom was Jean Nicolet in 1634. He traveled throughout most of the Great Lakes region claiming all of it for France. Hunting primarily fur bearing animals which financed his expeditions. It wasn't long before many others followed and the fox, beaver, bobcat, and otter they hunted were gone.

After most of the animals had dissapeared, many of these hunters turned to mining. The discovery of lead at Hazel Green brought the second wave of settlers to Wisconsin. A strike was so rich that Wisconsin became the nation's leading lead producer.

While other fur trappers turned to fishing and lumbering. Wisconsin soon became the Northeast's leading timber producing state. With its 10,000 inland lakes, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan providing a bounty for fishermen.

Walleye, northern pike, trout, and buffalofish were among their usual harvest. It wasn't long however, before both forests and fisheries suffered the fate of the previously hunted fur-bearing animals. Without resource management the supply of fish and lumber were both depleted by 1930.

Wisconsin is an excellent example of the results of unrestricted harvesting for maximum profit with long term diminishing returns. An issue which became even more evident during the "Dust Bowl" era of the 1930s that followed in Kansas and Oklahoma. Years before crop rotation and wildlife management existed.

Recent state and federal programs to educate hunters and farmers have curtailed the tremendous waste that occurred during these earlier periods. Leading to a revitalization of Wisconsin's farms, forests, and fisheries.

Today visitors are treated to a once again vibrant ecosystem in Wisconsin's 55 State Parks, the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests, and the Apostle Island National Lakeshore. The St Croix Wild and Scenic River is highly rated among canoeists as one of the most scenic waterways in the U.S. A favorite among those who prefer the relatively calm (Class II) water. The scenic and challenging Wolf and Flambeau Rivers are rated Class III with some Class IV whitewater.