Montana is a western state defined by its diverse terrain ranging from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains. Its wide-open spaces include Glacier National Park, a vast wilderness preserve that passes into Canada. The park’s many snow-capped peaks, lakes and alpine hiking trails are showcased along its famed Going-to-the-Sun Road, stretching 50 miles. Abbreviation: MT Capital: Helena Temperature: 64 degrees, mostly cloudy Time: 12:00 (MT, 2 hours behind us) Nickname: Big Sky Country Montana is known as "Big Sky Country"  because of its unobstructed skyline , which can sometimes seem to overwhelm the landscape.  The nickname originated in 1962 during a promotion for the Montana State Highway Department, and is credited to author A.B.  Guthrie, Jr.'s 1947 western novel The Big Sky.  The novel accurately depicted the state's untamed landscape, which helped Montana associate with the name "Big Sky".   Population: 1.1 million (PA 12.8m) Size: 147,040 squ...