Located in Franklin Township, Wayne County, Indiana, Hoosier Hill is the highest point in the state. The hill's elevation is 1,257 feet above sea level.
The central part of the state is a broad, fertile agricultural belt that stretches from the Ohio border to the confluence of the Wabash River and the Ohio River. This area of the state is referred to as the Till Plains, and it forms part of the Midwestern Corn Belt.
The bedrock of Indiana is primarily sedimentary in nature and includes shale, siltstone, sandstone, clay and limestone. The surface is characterized by unconsolidated sediments that date back to the Wisconsin glaciation, which covered much of the state about 21,000 to 13,600 years ago.
The climate of Indiana is relatively warm and humid during the summer months, but cooler in the fall and spring. This is due to the "lake effect" of Lake Michigan, which provides a cooling affect on the central region.
Indiana is primarily flat with no major mountain ranges. However, the southern section of the state is hilly and is characterized by knobs.
During the early 19th century, this region of the state was largely deciduous hardwood forests, but the development of industrial and agricultural activities has changed the landscape significantly. The resulting pollution has affected both the air and water quality. Consequently, the state's natural resources have been depleted. Fortunately, some of these depleted areas are now protected by the state's natural resources agency.
