
Oregon joined the United States as the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. Located in the Pacific Northwest of the country. The standard abbreviation is OR. The capital is Salem. The state is located on the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada to the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia River and the Snake River make up much of the natural border to the north and east of the state.
The area was inhabited by a large number of indigenous tribes before traders, explorers and settlers arrived. The latter established an autonomous government in Oregon Country in 1843. Oregon Territory was created in 1848 and from
According to EJIAXING, Oregon, located in the northwest, is six times the size of the Netherlands and half of it is forested. There are only 3.7 million people, half of whom live in the city of Portland. The state has more than 5,900 registered camping spots, 230 state parks, 13 national forests, and one national park. So if you want to, you barely have to spend time in the city and spend the entire vacation in Oregon’s wild nature. Which we don’t recommend, because Portland is a city you don’t want to miss.
Nature
If you love nature, the state of Oregon, in the United States, is the place to be. The Beaver State is known not only for its scenic beauty, but also for its environmentally conscious residents. The Oregonians are some of the most environmentally friendly Americans.
America’s Youngest Wine Region
Although wine has been cultivated in Oregon since the 1800s, it did not become a modern industry until the last four decades. South of Portland, the fertile Willamette Valley is home to 309 of the state’s 419 vineyards. Oregon became known worldwide thanks to its Pinot noir, but the diverse climate means that different types of wines are made in the state, from Chardonnay to Riesling. Another interesting wine region is the Columbia Gorge. On the border with Washington state. On the banks of the Columbia River, thanks to the different soil types, you will find a ‘world of wine’ within 60 km. The views from the high river gorge complete the experience.
Oregon on the road
As in all of the United States, you must also experience Oregon on the road. The state has hundreds of miles of scenic byways and tour routes that take you past the best the Beaver State has to offer. Four of these roads have even been classified as All-American Roads. That honor is only reserved for the most beautiful and unique routes in the United States.
For example, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway takes you along Hells Canyon, with a depth of 2.4 km the deepest river canyon in North America (the Grand Canyon is only 1.8 km deep). It then follows the foothills of the Wallowa Mountains – reminiscent of the Swiss Alps – and ends in the Grande Ronde Valley, a rest stop along the historic Oregon Trail.
The Historic Columbia River Highway is also on the former Oregon Trail, the route explorers Lewis and Clark, and later prospectors and settlers, took to the Pacific coast. The Highway takes you along the steep banks of the Columbia River, the Cascades Rapids and the Bonneville Dam.
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway takes you past Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the US at 665 m, several extinct volcanoes and Klamath Lake, where millions of birds settle during the migration season. The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway runs along the coast road along the Pacific Ocean. Rock cliffs, lighthouses and whale watching are what makes this road so unique.
Adventurous Oregon
Thanks to the varied terrain, Oregon offers plenty of space to practice all kinds of sports. Hundreds of hiking trails run across the state over both mountains and plains, which can be explored on foot or by mountain bike. The state has hundreds of kilometers of coastline and rivers, so water sports enthusiasts will also enjoy themselves here. The village of Hood River is known as the ‘windsurfing capital of the world’, thanks to the favorable winds on that part of the Columbia River. The many (raging) rivers are attractive for kayakers, canoeists and rafters. The 4,000 meter high peaks of the Cascade Mountains are again very suitable for winter sports. The Mt. Hood Skibowl is the largest night ski area in the country. The Timberline Ski Area has the longest ski season in the U.S. Other ski areas include Mt. Bend and Willamette Pass Resort.
Eco-Friendly Oregon
The Oregonians take good care of their wildlife. Oregon is consistently in the top five of the most environmentally friendly states and its largest city, Portland, is almost always at the top of lists of greenest cities in the US. green policy. Portland has one of the best park systems of any major US city. If parks are not your thing, you can leave the city within half an hour and find yourself in the middle of nature.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is a deep blue crater lake in southwestern Oregon. In 1902, the area was granted National Park status and is located in the heart of the Mount Mazama volcano. Six thousand years ago, volcanic eruptions undermined the volcano’s summit and eventually collapsed. The resulting boiler is today’s Crater Lake. The park has a total area of 742 square kilometers and is surrounded by several National Forests. The impressive Cascade Mountains also surround the park. The park is known for its beautiful natural beauty and deep blue water. The lake has a length of 9.5 km and a maximum width of 7.2 km. The depth of the lake was determined with sonar equipment and is 588 meters at the deepest point.
This makes it the deepest in the world after six lakes. In 1853, the lake was discovered by mining engineer John Wesley Hillman. He named it Deep Blue Lake because of the beautiful clear blue color of the water. In 1869 the lake got its current name. The 32 km long shore is surrounded by colorful lava walls that rise 150 to 610 meters above the lake surface. A 53 km tourist road follows the crater rim and passes points from which one has a magnificent view over the lake. There are also boat trips on the lake, but only in the summer. These start at Cleetwood Cove.
State Parks
Oregon has dozens of State Parks. Here you have many opportunities for cycling, canoeing, horseback riding and hiking. The state is known for its green character. Here you will find a link with an overview of the many State parks.
More info
- State slogan: The Beaver State
- State Flower: Mahogany
- State Bird: Ester Meadowlark