The American state of Alabama is located in the
south-eastern area of the country. It’s surrounded by other
states, but also borders the Gulf of Mexico to the south.
Size-wise, it’s the 30th largest state in the U.S. and 23rd in
population with close to five million people. The city of
Montgomery is its capital; however Birmingham is the largest by
population and Huntsville by size. The city of Mobile is also
popular and is the state’s oldest centre. It was the 22nd state
admitted to the Union, which took place in 1819.
People have been living in the area for thousands
of years and the French were the first to settle it in 1702. In
fact, the area has belonged to the French, British, and Spanish
at one time or another up until 1814. Alabama left the Union in
1861 to join Confederate States of America and rejoined it in
1868 after the Civil War.
The northern area of the state is mainly
mountainous, with numerous streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes.
It has quite a few national parks for
those who love camping and nature. Some of the most popular
ones include Horseshoe Bend National Military Park and Little
River Canyon National Preserve. There are also four national
forests along with several historic trails.
However, one of the most famous sites is the
five-mile wide crater in Elmore County. This is known as the
Wetumpka crater and it’s where a huge meteorite struck the earth
around 80 million years ago.
Outdoor activities are popular in Alabama as the
weather’s pretty good with an average yearly temperature of 64
degrees Fahrenheit. It’s warmer in the south, down by the Gulf
of Mexico, and cooler in the northeast, in the Appalachian
Mountains. The summers are hot and the winters are generally
mild, so just remember to dress accordingly.
Driving to and in Alabama is pretty easy as
there are five major highways that cross it. If you’d rather
fly, the major airports are Birmingham-Shuttlesworth,
Huntsville, Dothan Regional, Mobile Regional, Montgomery
Regional, Muscle Shoals – Northwest Alabama Regional, Tuscaloosa
Regional, and Pryor Field Regional. You can also reach the
cities of Anniston, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham by train. Another
option is by boat, as there are quite a few ports in Alabama,
due to the Gulf and its extensive waterway system.
Alabama is made up of 67 counties and there’s
quite a bit of political history in most of them. Some of the
major sites and events include the Alabama Theatre located in
Birmingham, the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, the Alabama
Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic festival in Decatur, the U.S.
Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Battleship Memorial
Park and Mardi Gras festival in Mobile, the Vulcan statue in
Birmingham, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival that takes
place in Montgomery.
Other places to learn about the state, its
people, culture and history include the Alabama Department of
Archives and History, Alabama Museum of Natural History,
Aliceville Museum and Cultural Arts Center, Anniston Museum of
Natural History, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Iron and
Steel Museum of Alabama, the Rosa Parks Display, and Rosenbaum
House Museum.
All of the major cities offer accommodations in
all price ranges, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a good
place to stay at reasonable prices. There are also all types of
restaurants that feature local and international cuisine. Some
of the local food includes seafood such as shrimp, crayfish, and
catfish, along with chicken, cornbread, French bread, sweet
potatoes, and biscuits.
The state is well known for its college and pro
sports teams, but none of them are in the major hockey,
basketball, soccer, and baseball leagues.
There’s more then plenty to see and do in
Alabama when it comes to history, nature and having a good time
and the weather definitely adds to the pleasure of a visit
there.
About Alabama