Europeans often smile pityingly, that Americans have "no real history". So the story of North Dakota may be quite a surprise for them.
    For example, did you know that the first settlers came here more than 10,000 years ago? That there were many trade routs all across the United States before the time of Christ? And do you know why the sea made this possible?
    In earlier geological eras North Dakota was covered by sea. As the seas dried up, came back, and dried up again, strange rock formations were left behind. These beautifully colored canyons, hills, and bluffs (útesy) are known as the Badlands. And something else was left here: Knife River flint (pazourek).
    It's a very useful stone, ideal for making tools - knives, scrapers, and arrows. The first settlers in North Dakota were American Indians. They found the flint and made fine tools.
    The sea also left something else: huge deposits of good quality coal. Today the coal is converted into gas and sent by pipeline to many other states.
    Water also gave North Dakota another gift. After a large glacier melted and moved away, it left hundreds of small lakes, called potholes. A pothole is usually a big hole in the street, but North Dakota's potholes make up a great highway. But this highway is not for cars (even though in North Dakota there are more licensed cars and trucks than there are people). No, this highway is for birds: ducks, herons, eagles, geese, and cranes all gather at the North Dakota potholes. That's why this state has more wildlife refuges (60) (oblast podobná národnímu parku) than any other.
    The glacier also left North Dakota with one more gift at the bottom of the old glacial lake. It's the "Red River Valley" of the famous folk song and it provides some of the richest farmland in the world. Of course glaciers have left lakes and good farmland in other states too, but North Dakota has a very special, astonishing (ohromující, šokující) beauty, thanks to formations like the Badlands.
    Even though there are only 9.3 people per square mile in this state, you can still enjoy life here. Especially if you like winter sports, thanks to the cold winters. You can choose from skiing, ice-fishing, sledding, and ice-skating or if you prefer to stay inside and keep warm, you can visit the state's 150 museums. As a result of this state's geological history, five of them are dedicated just to dinosaurs!

 
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