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== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
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* Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
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* Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.
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* The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for windsurfing.
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* Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.
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* Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.
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* Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
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* Pilot Butte, a cinder cone volcano, exists within the city limits of Bend.
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* At 329 feet the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.
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* At 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.
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* The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut. The hazelnut is also known as the filbert.
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* Oregon's state birthday is on February 14, Valentine's Day.
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* The "Oregon Pioneer" statue that tops the capitol building is a work by Ulric Ellerhusen. This heroic figure represents the spirit of Oregon's early settlers.
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* The state park system has 159 yurts located in 19 parks. Yurts are a circular domed tent suitable for camping.
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* Navy blue and gold are Oregon's official state colors.
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* The Chinook salmon is Oregon's official state fish.
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* The Willamette River was discovered in 1792.
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* In 1858 the richest gold find in the Cascade Mountains was discovered in the Bohemia Mining District at Sharp's Creek near Cottage Grove.
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* Dorris Ranch in Springfield became the first commercial filbert orchard in the state.
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* In 1876 the University of Oregon opened in Eugene. Deady Hall was the first building on campus and still exists.
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* In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.
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* The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.
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* Darlingtonia Wayside is Oregon's only rare plant sanctuary.
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* Oregon's second highest waterfall is Salt Creek Falls in the Cascade Mountain range. It drops 286 feet.
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* The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is one of the largest long-term ecological research sites in the United States.
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* Eugene is rated by "Bicycling Magazine" as one of the top ten cycling communities in the United States.
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* There are nine lighthouses standing along the coastline. Five are still being used; the others are designated historic monuments.
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* Portland is considered an example of outstanding urban planning. The city is known as The City of Roses.
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* High above the city of Portland the International Rose Test Garden features more than 500 varieties of roses cultivated continuously since 1917.
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* At 11,239 feet Mount Hood stands as the tallest peak in Oregon. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano.
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* Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails.
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* Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.
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* Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.
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* The world's largest rosary collection is exhibited at The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. A local resident collected the exhibit.
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* The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of carousel horses.
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* Fort Clatsop National Memorial contains a replica of Lewis and Clark's 1805-1806 winter outpost.
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* The small village of Bickelton is filled with bluebird houses seen on the posts of every house.
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* The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.
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* The Ries-Thompson House is the oldest remaining residence in Parkdale. Built circa 1900 the home and area offer a commanding view of Mount Hood.
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* Tillamook is home to Oregon's largest cheese factory.
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* Florence is known as Oregon's rhododendron capital.
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* The Oregon Legislature designated the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) as the Oregon state flower by resolution in 1899.
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* Oregon's capitol building is located in Salem. Earlier capitals include the cities of Oregon City and Corvallis.
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* The Columbia River forms most of the northern border between Oregon and Washington. The Snake River forms over half of the eastern boundary with Idaho.
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* In 1905 the largest long cabin in the world was built in Portland to honor the Lewis and Clark expedition.
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* A treaty between the United States and Spain established the current southern border between Oregon and California. The treaty was signed in 1819.
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* The Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States.
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* The Tillamook Naval Air Museum is housed in the world's largest wooden clear-span building.
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* Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is 235 feet high and is the third largest coastal monolith in the world.
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* The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, built in 1880, is currently used as the site of the final resting place of up to 467,000 cremated individuals.
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* The Seaside Aquarium was the first facility in the world to successfully breed harbor seals in captivity.
== External links ==
== External links ==