Columbia: I-126 E @ MM 3.4 Elmwood Ave

Tucked along the Congaree River in central South Carolina, Columbia is a place whose character is shaped by the meeting of the Broad and Saluda rivers. As the state capital, it centres on the South Carolina State House, whose grounds and dome anchor a formal civic district. The University of South Carolina, founded in 1801, gives the city a longstanding academic presence, while the historic Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park follow the waterway beside downtown. The Three Rivers Greenway includes routes for walking and cycling along the riverfront. Downstream, the Congaree River leads toward the floodplain forests protected by Congaree National Park. See how Columbia fits within the South Carolina Midlands by browsing webcams nearby.

Among the regions of the United States, South Carolina stands out for its sweep from the Atlantic coast and tidal Lowcountry to the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Its shoreline combines barrier islands, salt marshes and estuaries, with Charleston long established as one of the country’s important Atlantic port cities. Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, is where the American Civil War began in 1861. Farther inland, Congaree National Park protects a notable expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, while Columbia serves as the state capital. Discover other points of interest through webcams located across South Carolina.

The Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts define much of the United States — their ports, fisheries and trade routes have long tied the country’s economy to the wider world. Between them, the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Mississippi River basin form sharply different regions, from high western ranges to broad agricultural heartlands. Cities carry much of the national story: New York’s Statue of Liberty, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, remains an enduring symbol, while Washington, DC concentrates major federal institutions. Indigenous nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain essential to the country’s identity. Find related webcams in the surrounding areas to build a fuller picture of the United States.