NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Geography of North Dakota

North Dakota is about 340 miles (measured east to west,) and 211 miles (north to south,) covered in many different types of geographic formations. North Dakota covers approximately 70,704 square miles, making it the 19th largest of the 50 states. About 1,710 square miles of North Dakota are covered by water.

1 Geographic Divisions
2 The Red River Valley
3 The Drift Prairie
4 The Great Plains
5 The Badlands
6 External links

Geographic Divisions

North Dakota is divided into three geographic regions. In the east is the Red River Valley. To the west of the Red River Valley is the Drift Prairie. The southwestern part of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains, accentuated by the Badlands.

The Red River Valley

The Red River Valley lies along the border with Minnesota. It is very flat, and is one of the most fertile areas in the world. This area of North Dakota is mostly farm country, with wheat, sugar beets, and corn as staple crops, and along with other crops and livestock, cover the area. The lowest point in North Dakota lies on the Red River, at 750 feet above sea level.

The Drift Prairie

To the west of the Red River Valley is the Drift Prairie. The Drift Prairie is bordered on the north by the Turtle Mountains and separated from the Red River Valley by the Pembina Hills. This area rises from 200 to 2,000 feet over the Red River Valley. The Drift Prairie is covered in lakes, stream valleys, and rolling hills.

The Great Plains

About half of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains. The Great Plains, in the southwestern section of the state, are hilly and rich in mineral deposits. This area rises about 300 to 400 feet above the Drift Prairie east of the Missouri River. Along the Missouri River, the land is lower. This area is called the Missouri Break. To the south and west of the river is an area of rugged valleys and buttes called the Slope.

The Badlands

The Badlands lie in southwestern North Dakota. The Badlands are a valley of stone and clay that wind and water have shaped into strange formations; many shades of browns, reds, grays, and yellows carved into buttes, pyramids, domes, and cones. They stretch for about 190 miles and are from 6 to 20 miles wide. In some areas of the Badlands the rocks contain lignite coal that has been burning for many years. The clay above these coal beds has turned bright pink and red. White Butte, the highest point in North Dakota stands 3,506 feet above sea level in the Badlands.

External links

NETSTATE Geography

State of North Dakota
Regions
Red River Valley \| Missouri Escarpment \| Badlands
Largest cities
Beulah-Hazen \| Bismarck-Mandan \| Devils Lake \| Dickinson \| Fargo-West Fargo \| Grafton \| Grand Forks \| Jamestown \| Minot \| Rugby \| Valley City \| Wahpeton \| Williston
Counties
Adams - Barnes - Benson - Billings - Bottineau - Bowman - Burke - Burleigh - Cass - Cavalier - Dickey - Divide - Dunn - Eddy - Emmons - Foster - Golden Valley - Grand Forks - Grant - Griggs - Hettinger - Kidder - La Moure - Logan - McHenry - McIntosh - McKenzie - McLean - Mercer - Morton - Mountrail - Nelson - Oliver - Pembina - Pierce - Ramsey - Ransom - Renville - Richland - Rolette - Sargent - Sheridan - Sioux - Slope - Stark - Steele - Stutsman - Towner - Traill - Walsh - Ward - Wells - Williams A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Bismarck Fargo Area Ranked 19th - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 340 miles (545 km) - % water 2. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_North_Dakota. ... The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North. ... The Missouri Escarpment is a ridge in North Dakota approximately 100 miles to the west of the Red River Valley. ... The Chinle Badlands at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. ... Beulah is a city located in Mercer County, North Dakota. ... Hazen is a city located in Mercer County, North Dakota. ... Motto: Nickname: Map Political Statistics Founded Incorporated Burleigh County Mayor John Warford Geographic Statistics Area - Total - Land - Water 71. ... Mandan is a city located in Morton County, North Dakota. ... Devils Lake is a city in Ramsey County, North Dakota in the United States. ... Dickinson is a city in Stark County, North Dakota in the United States. ... Flag Location Location in North Dakota Government Country State County Region United States North Dakota Cass County Red River Valley Founded 1871 Mayor Bruce Furness Geographical characteristics Area - City 98. ... West Fargo is a city located in Cass County, North Dakota. ... Grafton is a city located in Walsh County, North Dakota. ... Motto: A Place of Excellence Nickname: The Sunflake City Map Political Statistics Founded 15 June 1870 Incorporated February 22, 1881 County Grand Forks County Mayor Michael Brown Geographic Statistics Area - Total - Land - Water 49. ... Jamestown is a city in Stutsman County, North Dakota in the United States. ... Nickname: Magic City Map Location in Ward County, North Dakota Political Statistics Founded 1886 Incorporated June 28, 1887 County Ward County Mayor Curt Zimbelman Geographic Statistics Area - Total - Land - Water 37. ... Rugby is a city in Pierce County, North Dakota in the United States. ... Valley City is a city located in Barnes County, North Dakota. ... Wahpeton is a city located in Richland County, North Dakota. ... Williston is a city in Williams County, North Dakota. ... List of North Dakota counties: Adams County Barnes County Benson County Billings County Bottineau County Bowman County Burke County Burleigh County Cass County Cavalier County Dickey County Divide County Dunn County Eddy County Emmons County Foster County Golden Valley County Grand Forks County Grant County Griggs County Hettinger County Kidder... Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ... Barnes County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Benson County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Pokai is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Bottineau County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Bowman County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Burke County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Burleigh County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Cass County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Cavalier County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Dickey County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Divide County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Dunn County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Eddy County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Emmons County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ... Foster County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Golden Valley County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Grand Forks County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Grant County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Griggs County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Hettinger County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Kidder County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... LaMoure County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Logan County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... McHenry County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... McIntosh County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... McKenzie County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... McLean County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Mercer County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Morton County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Mountrail County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Nelson County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Oliver County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Pembina County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Pierce County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Ramsey County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Ransom County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Renville County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Richland County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Rolette County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Sargent County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Sheridan County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Sioux County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Slope County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Stark County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Steele County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Stutsman County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Towner County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Traill County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Walsh County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Ward County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Wells County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... Williams County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ...

COMMENTARY

Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms, 1022, m

Contents