Tag Archive: Study in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state in the south-central United States. It borders Texas to the south, Kansas and Colorado to the north, Arkansas and Missouri to the east, and New Mexico to the west. The capital and largest city is Oklahoma City. The official state motto is “Work conquers all.” The official nickname is the “Hurry State” or “The Land Invader State.”
STATE NAME
The name of the state of Oklahoma, like many other US states, comes from the languages ​​of the indigenous people of North America – the Indians. In the language of the Choctaw Indians, and today living in Oklahoma, Alabama, California, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the words okla humma mean “red people”.
GEOGRAPHY
Oklahoma is located in the South of the United States and belongs to the southwestern central states of the United States. The area of ​​Oklahoma is 181,195 km2 (twentieth place among the US states. Oklahoma borders the states of Texas in the south and southwest, New Mexico and Colorado in the northwest, Kansas in the north, Missouri in the northeast and Arkansas in the east. Oklahoma is part of the US Central Time Zone. Oklahoma is characterized by a predominantly flat terrain with several mountain ranges, and the terrain gradually decreases from northwest to southeast. West Oklahoma belongs to the High Plains region, part of the US Great Plains. with sandy soils, it is here that the highest point of the state is located – Black Mesa Hill (1,516 meters above sea level).To the east, the “High Plains” gradually decrease (up to about 600 meters), replaced by “Gypsum Hills”. These numerous hills are covered with outcrops of gypsum rocks, often shining in the sun (which gave rise to another name for the area – “Glass Hills”). East of Kansas to Texas stretches Oklahoma’s largest geographic region in terms of area – the forest-steppes of the Red Beds Plain. In the southwest of the state, the rocky outcrops of the Wichita Mountains rise, reaching a height of 756 meters above sea level. The reserve of the same name located here is very popular among fans of mountaineering and hiking.
CLIMATE
Most of Oklahoma has a temperate continental climate, and the weather can change very quickly and dramatically. The average temperature and precipitation decrease from the southeastern districts (where the climate is humid subtropical) to the northwestern, semi-arid regions.
In the state’s capital and largest city, Oklahoma City, temperatures typically range from -2°C to 9°C in January and 22°C to 34°C in July. In southwest Oklahoma, in Lawton, the coldest month is typically between -3°C and 10°C, and the hottest is between 23°C and 35°C. In the northeast, in Bartlesville, winter average temperatures range from -4°C to 8°C, and in summer from 21°C to 34°C. Oklahoma is located on “Tornado Alley”, the collision of warm and cold air masses is very often (more than fifty times a year) they create destructive whirlwinds here.
ECONOMY
Oklahoma’s main economic sectors are mining, industry, and agriculture. The most important mineral wealth of the state is oil (Oklahoma ranks fifth in the United States in terms of reserves and production of “black gold”) and natural gas (according to various estimates – the second or third place in the United States). Numerous companies are associated with oil and gas production in Oklahoma, the largest of which are Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and Sandridge Energy, as well as ONEOK and Williams Companies, which are headquartered in Tulsa. In addition, Oklahoma produces iodine (it is not produced anywhere else in the USA), coal, limestone, granite, gypsum and other materials used in construction.
TOURISM
Although Oklahoma is certainly not the most “touristic” of the US states, there are enough attractions (for example, the National Museum of Cowboys and Western History) and a number of activities are held that are interesting for both visitors and local residents. So, for example, more than a million visitors annually gather fairs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, tens of thousands of people attend music festivals in Tulsa (Dfest) and Norman. Norman also hosts a unique “medieval” festival.