North-Dakota

North Dakota’s economy is based primarily on agriculture, manufacturing, mining and telecommunications. The western half of the state is composed of cattle and sheep ranches, so you may see a lot of cowboys! Meat is very popular in North Dakota, you may try buffalo and elk for the first time! The farms disappear into suburban communities as you head east to the capital, Bismarck. North Dakota is one of the top producers of wheat and sunflowers in the nation, and has more designated wildlife refuges than any state.

EF students in North Dakota most often live in small towns that have great distances between them. Public transportation is not readily available, so many students rely on their host family and friends to take them places. Although this may be a big change from urban living, students here say the experience is wonderful, the whole town feels like family. North Dakotans are trusting, family-oriented and friendly, and the state has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. There is a large Scandinavian influence and because of this the people are excited to learn about other cultures. Students here say the best way to meet people is to be active and participate in sports, special interest groups and church youth activities. Since winters in North Dakota are long, activities such as hockey, ice skating and snowmobiling are very popular.

Bonanzaville, U.S.A., in West Fargo, is a preserved pioneer village.

The Chateau de Mores, near Medora, was the home of a Frenchman, the Marquis de Mores, who founded Medora in 1883. 

At the Dinosaur Museum, in Grand Forks, there are many preserved fossils from archeological digs, including one of the 12 known skeletons of the ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

The International Peace Garden, (taken from the state nickname) is a beautiful botanical park. 

The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, near Stanton, includes the remains of five Hidatsa Indian villages that were occupied until 1845. 

Lake Sakakawea, named for the Sioux squaw, is a reservoir for the Garrison Dam, north of Bismarck. It’s a great location for summer sports, camping and picnicking. 

The Lawrence Welk Homestead, in Strasburg, was the birthplace and home of the famous American band leader who would host a popular television show for 26 years. 

Sully’s Hill National Game Preserve, in Devil’s Lake, has more than 75,000 buffalos. 

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in the scenic Badlands. The park is a wildlife sanctuary.

The climate has a range of temperatures and moderate rainfall. North Dakota has cold winters and warm, pleasant summers. In wintertime, temperatures are consistently below freezing and the state receives plenty of snowfall. During the summer, temperatures can reach up into the 25 degrees Celsius.

• Angie Dickinson - Television and film actress of the 1970’s
• Eric Sevareid - Television commentator, news analyst and author
• John Bernard Flannagan - Abstract sculptor of the early 20th century
• Lawrence Welk - American band leader and television star
• Louis L’Amour - Author of western novels, famous for the Sackett series
• Teddy Roosevelt, American president from 1858-1919