Madison Between the Lakes
From the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol, visitors can look down streets toward water in two directions. Lake Mendota lies to the north, and Lake Monona lies to the south. Between them sits the center of Madison, Wisconsin’s capital city. Its location helps explain both the shape of downtown and the importance of its lakes.
The narrow stretch of land between the two lakes is an isthmus. An isthmus connects larger areas of land while separating bodies of water. Madison’s isthmus gives downtown a distinctive shape: buildings, streets, and parks share a relatively narrow space between two shorelines. The city also extends well beyond the isthmus, across land on all sides of the lakes.
Near the middle of the isthmus stands the Wisconsin State Capitol. A state capital is the city where a state’s government is based. The Capitol, with an “o,” is the building where much of that government works. In Madison, the Capitol’s large dome rises above four wings. A statue called Wisconsin stands on top of the dome.
- distinctive:
- Easy to recognize because it is different from others.
- elected:
- Chosen by people through a vote.
- lawmakers:
- People who consider and make laws.
- nutrients:
- Substances that help living things grow.
- algae:
- Simple living things that often grow in water.
- recreation:
- Activities people do for enjoyment.
- habitat:
- A place where a living thing can live.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How does the isthmus shape downtown Madison?
- 2How are a state capital and a Capitol different?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Madison Between the Lakes” is a explanatory article reading passage about Madison, Wisconsin, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (475 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.