According to directoryaah, the state of North Dakota in the United States is right on the border with neighboring Canada, so there is also the opportunity to take a trip across the border and have a look around Canada. From breathtaking mountains to the prairie, everything is available in North Dakota, so that nothing is left to be desired in terms of landscape – whether you prefer hiking or climbing – you will definitely find peace and relaxation. Eight different museums with different disciplines in North Dakota ensure that nothing is left to be desired in terms of culture.
The famous Theodor Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota offers the opportunity to enjoy nature and discover numerous plants and animals that make their home in this protected area. In addition, in many larger cities, but also in small villages, you will find some beautiful local sights that you can use as a destination for a day trip. North Dakota is pleasantly warm in summer, sometimes even hot, but in winter it is often very cold. There is usually snow in winter, so you can also do winter sports. A trip to North Dakota can be an experience at any time of the year.
North Dakota – key data
Land area: 183,272 sq km (19th place of all US states)
Share of water surface: 2.4%
Population: 641,481 residents (2008 estimate, ranked 48th of all states in the USA)
Population density: 3.5 people per square kilometer (47th place of all states in the USA)
Member of the USA since: November 2, 1889 (39th state in the USA)
Capital city: Bismarck (62,840 residents, 2007, metropolitan area 107,719 residents)
Largest city: Fargo (99,200 residents, 2008 estimate, metropolitan region 195,685 residents)
Highest point: 1,069 m, White Butte
Lowest point: 229 m, Red River
Governor: John Hoeven (Republican)
Lieut. Governor: Jack Dalrymple (Republican)
Local time: CET -7 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -6 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -7 h in both winter and summer.
Postal abbreviation: ND
North Dakota Geography and Map
North Dakota with the capital Bismarck is part of the American Midwest. The name of the state is derived from the Dakota, the indigenous people of this area. In reference to the International Peace Garden on the border with Canada, North Dakota is also called the Peace Garden State.
The state of North Dakota covers an area of 183,272 square kilometers and is on average 580 meters above sea level. North Dakota’s highest point is the 1,069 meter high White Butte. The lowest point is 229 feet above sea level and is located on the Red River of the North.
North Dakota’s northern neighbors are the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. North Dakota is bordered by Montana to the west and South Dakota to the south. Minnesota is neighboring to the east.
Geographically, North Dakota can be divided into three regions. The western part of the state lies in the Great Plains – the Great Plains – a dry area about 500 kilometers wide east of the Rocky Mountains. The Great Plains stretch from the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta to southern Texas. To the north, the Great Plains are crossed by the Canadian shield bounded to the south by the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Plains cover an area of approximately 2 million square kilometers. In addition to North Dakota, they extend over nine other US states: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.
Also to the west of North Dakota are the Badlands settled – a landscape created by erosion and denudation, which is characterized by canyons, gorges and valleys as well as sharp ridges. This part of North Dakota is also home to the state’s highest point, the White Butte, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The Missouri River is also characteristic of the landscape of western North Dakota. The 4,130 kilometer long river forms Lake Sakakawea there, a reservoir created with the help of the Garrison Dam.
In the center of the state are the Drift Prairie with the Turtle Mountains and the Missouri Plateau. The region is characterized by hilly landscapes, criss-crossed by lakes and river valleys.
The east is characterized by the flat Red River Valley, which is formed by the Red River of the North. The area is very fertile and is used for agriculture. At the end of the last Ice Age, the Red River of the North fed Lake Agassiz, a lake whose area was larger than that of the Great Lakes combined. In its greatest extent, the Agassizsee extended over an area of approximately 440,000 square kilometers. It covered part of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, western Ontario, and northern Minnesota and North Dakota. Remnants of the lake today form, among other things, the Winnipegsee, Lake Manitoba and Lake of the Woods. East North Dakota is also home to the state’s largest natural lake, Devil’s Lake.
North Dakota Landmarks
In North Dakota, agriculture and animal husbandry play an important role economically. But tourists are not forgotten either. The American state has a number of different sights and attractions to offer.
There are some historical sacred buildings from different faiths to visit here. So don’t miss the Medicine Rock State Historic Site. This is an old Indian sacred place of great historical importance.
The Gothic-Romanesque church of St. Peter and Paul Church from 1910 is definitely worth a visit.
The Grade II listed Basilica of St. James Catholic in Jamestown dates from 1889.
You should also see Assumption Abbey, a Catholic abbey near Richardton, which was built in 1909.
In Blanchard you can see the tallest structure on earth at 628.8 meters. This is the television mast KVLI-TV mast.
In North Dakota there is also a memorial to the great Chief Sitting Bull. The Sitting Bull Burial State History Site is the burial place of Sitting Bull.
There is also an interesting museum where you can visit numerous Indian objects from bygone times. There is certainly no boredom with the tour of the North Dakota Heritage Center and Sakakawea Statue.
The Palins Art Museum is a huge art museum in the American city of Fargo. But there is also art to be seen in the North Dakota Museum of Art.
The Tofthagen Library and Museum shows a lot about the history of the American state. Among other things, you can see the Sitting Bulls peace pipe there.
The oldest cinema in the USA can also be found in North Carolina, more precisely in the city of Dickinson. The cinema was built in 1914.
One of the special buildings is the North Dakota State Capitol. The 19-story building was built in 1933 and is now the seat of the North Dakota government.
Also worth seeing is the Double Ditch Indian Village. This is a ruined village of the Madan Indians from 1550. The Menoken Indian Village State History Site is also an old Indian settlement. However, this dates from around the year 1200.
The Theodore Roosevelt National Park should not be missed. It will be a real experience for nature lovers among tourists. Here you can experience a fantastic flora and fauna.
