The State of Ohio is divided into 89 counties. Other major rivers of note include the Cuyahoga, Miami, Sandusky, Maumee, Muskingum, and Scioto rivers. The most significant river is the Ohio River, which forms the state’s entire southern border, and much of its eastern border. Situated about 5 miles off the coast, Kelleys Island - is the largest freshwater American island in Lake Erie. The Bass Islands are a group of small, mostly limestone islands, located off the state's northern coastline. Slightly elevated clay bluffs also front the lake and are situated to the east of Cleveland. In addition, animal reserves, zoos, and national parks that are all surrounding Lake Erie help protect this essential natural resource.Īs observed on the map, scattered sand dunes are found across Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline.

These habitats provide homes for aquatic species such as fish, herons, beavers, frogs, and other animals. Nowadays, its major ecosystems include cypress swamps, lakes, marshes, shrublands, wetlands, and more. After draining efforts undertaken during the 19th century, it became one of the most extensive swamps covering an area of more than 950 thousand acres. The Great Black Swamp is situated in the northern part of Lake Erie and was once a vast wetland filled with cedar woodlands dating back centuries. Human activities have altered these areas' natural habitats, which now support much of the state's population, making its soils very fertile for growing corn, wheat, and barley oats, among other crops that help supply food needs nationwide.

This region was formed millions of years ago when glaciers moved over this land, creating many layers upon layers of glaciofluvial deposits such as gravel, sand, silt, and clay, thus covering much topographic relief and creating a flat landscape consisting primarily of agricultural fields with interspersions with pastures throughout this region. The Glaciated Plain covers most parts of the Central and Northwestern part of Ohio. Other features include narrow valleys known as 'hollows' caused by stream erosion, further accentuating relief in this region.

It has a rugged landscape that includes steep ridges known as cuestas created from erosion, mostly from streams whose directions have been changed from glaciation events thousands of years ago. The Appalachian Plateau is located mainly in the southeastern portion of Ohio along its border with West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This region is characterized by rolling hills and meadows dotted with large farms and small towns and villages. The Bluegrass Region is also known as the Inner Bluegrass due to its well-draining soils, which are very suitable for growing grass and trees. Ohio consists of four distinct geographical regions: The Bluegrass Region in the south-central part of Ohio The Appalachian Plateau in the southeastern part of Ohio The Glaciated Plain in northwestern and central parts of Ohio and The Great Black Swamp located in northwest Ohio. The land area of Ohio is approximately 44,825 square miles, with a population estimated at 11.7 million. Michigan borders it to the north, West Virginia and Kentucky to the south, Pennsylvania to the east, Indiana to the west, and Lake Erie to the north. The state of Ohio is located in the midwestern region of the United States.

Ohio outline