*NOTE: These days my head is
completely in Oregon for most of my waking hours, as I help Rally Hosts Pat & Candayce Detloff with their
upcoming Country Coach Friends Club Friendship Rally coming this August in Albany, and I work at Premier RV Services in Junction
City, and I volunteer with Oregon RV Alliance which promotes all of Oregon and
the merits of spending leisure time in this wonderful state. So when I ran across this article online at http://www.squidoo.com/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-Oregon.the
other day, I thought some of the Country Coach Friends may find it as
interesting as I did. Thanks to the
folks at squidoo.com for authoring such an interesting read!
1. Mainland casualties of World War II
happened in Oregon - During the course of World War II, the
Japanese had launched more than 9,000 balloons equipped with fire bombs into
the Pacific jet stream with the hopes that they would land in the United States
and start forest fires. One balloon landed near Bly, Oregon and was
inadvertently triggered by a child who found it. The resulting explosion killed
that child, four others, and an adult female. These were the only people to die during World War II due to enemy action
on the mainland of the United States.
{According to Wikipedia, from late 1944 until early 1945,
the Japanese launched over 9,300 of these fire balloons, of which 300 were
found or observed in the U.S. Despite the high hopes of their designers, the balloons
were ineffective as weapons: causing only six deaths (from one single incident)
and a small amount of damage. Japanese bomb-carrying balloons were 10 m
(33 ft) in diameter and, when fully inflated, held about 540 m3
(19,000 cu ft) of hydrogen. Their launch sites were located on the
east coast of the main Japanese island of Honshū. Japan released the first of
these bomb-bearing balloons on November 3, 1944. They were found in 17 states
as well as Mexico and Canada. General Kusaba's men launched over 9,000 balloons
throughout the course of the project. The Japanese expected 10% (around 900) of
them to reach America. About 300 balloon bombs were found or observed in
America. It is likely that more balloon bombs landed in unpopulated areas of
North America. The last one was launched in April 1945.}
2. Astoria, first Permanent English
Speaking Settlement West of the Rockies
- Astoria,
a community located at the mouth of the Columbia River and on the southern end
of the more than two and a third mile long Astoria-Megler Bridge that connects
the state of Oregon with its neighbor to the north Washington, was the first permanent English-speaking
settlement west of the Rocky Mountains
3. The first,
second and third most populous cities in the state of Oregon are all located
relatively close together in the Willamette River Valley, they are:
Portland (1st), Eugene (2nd) and Salem (3rd).
4. Crater Lake - Deepest lake in the United
States - Oregon's
Crater Lake found in the state's only national park, Crater Lake National Park,
is the deepest lake in the entire United States with a maximum dept of 1,949
feet and an average depth of 1,148 feet. It is the second deepest lake in North
America and the ninth deepest lake in the entire world.
5. Corvalis,
temporary capital of Oregon - While Salem has been both
the territorial and state capital of Oregon since it was moved there in 1851
from Oregon City, for one year in 1855 Corvallis became the capital of
the Oregon Territory before it was moved back to Salem the
following year.
6. Hells Canyon - Is the deepest river gorge in
North America
at approximately 8,000 feet. It is a very scenic location where you can also go
whitewater boating, hike or horseback ride along the 900 miles of trails around
the Snake, Imnaha and Rapid Rivers.
7. Home of the hazelnut - Oregon
is the only state that has an official state nut, the hazelnut. In fact, Oregon grows 98%
of the hazelnuts in the United States. This hazelnut, also known as a filbert,
was first introduced to Oregon via early French settlers. If you know someone
from Oregon, tell them they are nuts.
8. Heceta Head Lighthouse - One of the most
beautiful - Oregon is home to the
Heceta Head Lighthouse, a working lighthouse that is 56 feet high and one of
the most photographed lighthouses in the United States. It is truly one most
beautiful in the world. A visitor to the lighthouse can enjoy bed and breakfast
rentals while delighting in the outdoor scenic view.
9. No Self Serve Gas Stations - Oregon is one two states (the other is New
Jersey) where there is no self service gas. It is believed this
gives jobs to people and it helps out the elderly and the handicapped who have
difficulty pumping their own gas. The nice about it is that they don't expect
tips for this service since it's done all over Oregon.
10. Portland is nicknamed the City of
Roses. - The city of Portland,
Oregon is nicknamed "The city of Roses" due to having an abundance of
rose gardens throughout the city. If you visit the International Rose Test
Garden you can view over 9,000 roses in a four acre area.
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