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With most of the state's land still devoted to farming and ranching, North Dakota attractions continue to evoke the flavor of the Old West.

First explored by French Canadians in the early 1700's, North Dakota territory was finally acquired by the U.S. with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Intrepid Irish and Scottish settlers established the state's first town, Pembina, almost ten years later.

Famous for its rugged outdoor activities such as deer hunting and bass and trout fishing, North Dakota boasts millions of acres of public parks including Theodore Roosevelt National Park complete with herds of wild horses.

Home to North Dakota State University, Fargo also offers more urban attractions with its variety of sports arenas, art exhibits, theaters and historic museums. Although the North Dakota's biggest city does not figure prominently in the film plot, Fargo was securely put on the map in the popular imagination when the Oscar-winning movie of the same name was released in the 1990's.

Major tourist attractions in North Dakota include Theodore Roosevelt National Park (left);
the Buffalo Museum in Jamestown (middle); and the Dakota Zoo in Bismark (right).

Other North Dakota travel spots include the International Peace Garden near the Canadian border; the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown (boasting the world's largest buffalo statue); and the state capital at Bismarck with its major attractions inducing the Dakota Zoo and the recently expanded North Dakota Heritage Center.

DID YOU KNOW? North Dakota Travel Fun Facts

Official state flower: the wild prairie rose.

• Outdoor sports are BIG in North Dakota. How big? One of the world's largest sports stores is Scheels in Fargo. It has 196,000 square feet of floor space and has a Ferris wheel inside.

• The world's largest buffalo monument is located at Frontier Village in Jamestown. The structure is 26 feet high, 46 feet long, and weighs 60 ton.

• Turtle Lake is home of the annual United States Turtle Racing Championship.

• Like a firm footing? North Dakota is the only state in the nation to never have an earthquake.

• Growing wild throughout North Dakota is the state's official flower, the wild prairie rose.

also see -> North Dakota Lakes & Beaches

This Christmas in North Dakota

More about North Dakota tourist attractions around the Web:

North Dakota Tourism - Scenic attractions, hotel & restaurant guides, plus info on boating, canoeing, sailing, water parks, and browse around for more on fishing and hunting, pictures, maps, trip planner.

North Dakota - Wikitravel - An extensive insider guide to major attractions throughout the state including photos and suggested itineraries.