Any Travels

North Dakota is a Midwestern state in the United States. North Dakota is bordered on the north by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, on the west by Montana, on the south by South Dakota, and on the east — across the Red River of the North and the Bois de Sioux River — by Minnesota.

It is the northernmost of the Great Plains states and is the northern half of The Dakotas. During the 19th century, North Dakota was considered part of the Wild West. Formerly part of Dakota Territory (named after the Dakota tribe of Native Americans), North Dakota became the 39th state in 1889.

The Missouri River flows through the western part of the state and forms Lake Sakakawea behind the Garrison Dam. The western half of the state is hilly and is home to natural resources including lignite coal and crude oil. In the east, the Red River of the North forms the Red River Valley. This region has rich farmland. Agriculture has long dominated the economy and culture of North Dakota.

The quiet natural beauty of the State is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota," Theodore Roosevelt once remarked. Roosevelt first came to the badlands in September 1883 on a hunting trip. While here he became interested in the cattle business and invested in the Maltese Cross Ranch. He returned the next year and established the Elkhorn Ranch. This ranch later became part of Roosevelt National Park.

In Central North Dakota, be sure to stop in Bismarck, the state capital and visit the North Dakota Heritage Center. Another must see is Devils Lake - the largest natural lake in North Dakota encompassing over 122,000 acres that has more than 375 miles of shoreline providing outstanding fishing and recreational opportunities.

Fargo and Grand Forks are set in the scenic Red River Valley. They are nice to visit and good bases for exploring the region. In West North Dakota, stop and see Lewis and Clark State Park outside of Williston or drive down to the historic frontier town of Medora and visit the Mansion of the Marquis de Mores. Be sure to see the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site just outside of Stanton.

Culture

As most residents of North Dakota are descendants of Scandinavian and German immigrants, North Dakotans are sometimes stereotyped similarily as Minnesotans. Stereotypical traits include Lutheranism (35 percent of the state's population is Lutheran) "Minnesota nice," "hot dish" (a Midwestern term for casserole),"lutefisk" (a pungent preparation of fish from Scandinavian recipes that include soaking in lye), very close family ties (and a strong sense of duty to their families, healthy and dysfunctional alike), a strong sense of community and shared culture with many other North Dakotans instead of just with one's town or city, North Dakota often shares Minnesota's form of Upper Midwest American English (including Scandinavian-sounding words like "uff-da"), and a distinctive type of upper Midwestern accent.

Along with having the most churches per capita of any state, North Dakota has the highest percentage of church-going population of any state.

Native American traditions are still practiced by the Native American population of North Dakota, especially on Indian reservation land. Pow-wows and traditional Native American dancing are still found across the state.

Outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing are major parts of lives of many North Dakotans. Ice fishing is also popular during the winter months. Residents of eastern North Dakota, specifically the Red River Valley, may own or visit a cabin along a lake in neighboring Minnesota. Weekend trips to Minnesota cabins is common during the summer months. Residents of other regions of North Dakota often go to resorts on North Dakota lakes, as cabins are less common than in Minnesota. Popular sport fish are walleye, perch, and northern pike. The mosquito is an annoyance in North Dakota as well as neighboring states during the summer months.