As the northernmost of the Great Plains States, during the 19th Century, North Dakota was considered part of the Wild West since it was part of the Dakota teritory until 1889 when it became a state in its own right. Lake Sakakawea is formed by the damming of the Missouri river behind the Garrison Dam and boasts of a hilly landscape in the west and rich farmlands in the east. Agriculture has long dominated the culture and economy of north Dakota but its natural resources also include lignite coal and crude oil. Its climate varies greatly since it is a prime example of a continental climate — it is far from major bodies of water that would otherwise serve to moderate the weather. Because of this, the climate of North Dakota can range from sweltering heat and humidity in the summers to bitter cold in the winters. Competing warm air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air masses from the Arctic regions often produce strong winds as they move in and out of the region. ...more

As the northernmost of the Great Plains States, during the 19th Century, North Dakota was considered part of the Wild West since it was part of the Dakota teritory until 1889 when it became a state in its own right. Lake Sakakawea is formed by the damming of the Missouri river behind the Garrison Dam and boasts of a hilly landscape in the west and rich farmlands in the east. Agriculture has long dominated the culture and economy of north Dakota but its natural resources also include lignite coal and crude oil. Its climate varies greatly since it is a prime example of a continental climate — it is far from major bodies of water that would otherwise serve to moderate the weather. Because of this, the climate of North Dakota can range from sweltering heat and humidity in the summers to bitter cold in the winters. Competing warm air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air masses from the Arctic regions often produce strong winds as they move in and out of the region.
Thunderstorms frequently occur in the summer as a result of the between Arctic and tropic systems and con often be so strong that they result in hail and sometimes tornadoes and the state may experience as many as between 20-40 days of thunderstorm activity per annum. Late in the fall or early in the spring blizzards may occur as a result of severe snowstorms although the winter is generally cold and dry with some snow flurries that can become blowing snow at any time as a result of the constant wind.
Originally, inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years, the first European to reach the area was the French-Canadian trader La Vérendrye, who led an exploration party to Mandan villages about 1738. Dakota tribes rarely dealt directly with Europeans however by the time of Lewis and Clark, they were at least somewhat aware of the French and then Spanish claims to their territory.

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