The Great Lakes and Corn Belt

The Great Lakes and the Corn Belt include Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, and parts of Canada. This region is also called the heartland of North America because not only is it in the central part of the United States, it was also a prominent factor in early agriculture and mining. The Great Lakes made it possible for minerals and resources to be transported quickly along the lakes and canals. The Erie Canal connected Lake Erie to Lake Ontario which connected to the Atlantic ocean, also provided transport to the East Coast and Europe. Aptly named the Corn Belt, the major agricultural produce was corn. Iowa grew 175 or more bushels per acre and similarly California also grew more than 175 bushels per acre. Another major production they have in the heartland is ethanol. Most of the ethanol comes from the heartland. California only has four ethanol producing plants compared to the hundreds in the central United States.