A state legislature mandated in 1881 an official pronunciation for Arkansas, the traditional form "arkanSAW"; perhaps the only U.S. State with such a law on the books.

Arkansas is called 'The Natural State', a nickname made official in 1995 and was adopted to highlight the "...unsurpassed scenery, clear lakes, free-flowing streams, magnificent rivers meandering bayous, delta bottomlands, forested mountains, and abundant fish and wildlife." The 1,450-mile long Arkansas River - the longest stream to flow into the Mississippi-Missouri river system, and more than 600,000 acres of natural lakes, further attest to this description.

Arkansas is famous for its mountain fishing lakes which are among the cleanest in the world. Lake attractions have spawned watercraft enjoyment in houseboats, sailing rigs, party barges, fishing boats, rafts, parasails and jet skis.

Only in Arkansas, mallard hunting is a main attraction for hunters across the nation. And yet 'gem hunting' is also a rare challenge as visitors can search for precious gems, including diamonds, in the Crater of Diamonds State Park - the oldest diamond mine in North America.

W.H. Fuller grew the first commercially successful rice crop in Arkansas turning the Grand Prairie into 'grand' rice granary. Arkansas is now the leading producer of the grain in the country. To go with rice, Arkansas cuisine is distinct for its barbecue, catfish, fried green tomatoes and poultry. The latter may be served in hefty portions since Arkansas leads the nation in commercial chicken farming.

• Arkansas Democrat Gazette