5 North Dakota Facts You’d Find Interesting to Know
If you are planning a trip to the Peace Garden State, here are several North Dakota facts that you may find interesting.
Enjoy the Utmost Privacy
North Dakota, which has Bismarck as its capital city, is one of the least populous states in the country. As such, it is one of the best places to visit if you wish to enjoy privacy amidst a vast and diverse range of wildlife.
A Lewis & Clark Adventure
North Dakota is one of the states in which Lewis and Clark, together with the Corps of Discovery, had passed during their exploration of the West. At the Lewis & Clark State Park, visitors may be able to retrace part of their journey and even share in their experiences with horseback riding, canoeing, and trailing adventures.
A Living Memorabilia of the Past
The American elm tree is the North Dakota state tree. It used to be found in plentiful numbers, lining practically every major street and gracing every home. But the import of infected European lumber had introduced the Dutch elm disease to the land, an epidemic that had caused the destruction of American elms by millions in a significantly short period of time.
As American elms can reach more than 120 feet in height, they are definitely a wonderful sight to behold. Thankfully, there are still a small number of American elm trees that has been saved from this killing disease and you can enjoy their beauty at various state parks of North Dakota.
A Devil’s Name for an Ethereal Lake
Devils Lake is the state’s largest (natural) body of water. Miniwaukan is a Native American name that had been misinterpreted as ‘bad spirit’ by early day explorers. It was then used to name the lake which, being a site of frequent incidents of legendary drowned warriors and home to mythical monsters, was later on known to be as Devils Lake, which continues to be its name today.
Today, Devils Lake is part of Devils Lake State Park and far from being a frightening site, it is now a popular spot for fishing and boating especially in the months of summer. It is also known as the Perch Capital of the World.
Flowers to the Sun
The Peace Garden State also holds the record of growing the most number of sunflowers in the country. You’ll see a good amount of evidence of this in any of the wildlife refuges and state parks of North Dakota.
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