Oregon supposedly derived its name from the term "ouragan" meaning "storm." Early French Canadian fur traders would refer to the rivers in the area as "the rivers of storms." Other assumptions to the origin of the name are the Spanish words "orejon" - meaning "big ear" - applied to many Indian tribes in the area, and "oregano" – for the wild sage abundant in eastern Oregon.

The state nickname "The Beaver State" is impressed upon because of the admirable qualities of intelligence, industry, and ingenuity associated with the official State Animal. And wait until the unique Oregon flag is shown - the only flag in the nation that features a different obverse and reverse, the state seal at the "front" and a small beaver at the "back."

Oregon is famous for possessing the deepest lake in America, the Crater Lake, situated in the Crater Lake National Park, Oregon's only national park. The lake has an astounding clarity depth of 134 feet attributed to its isolation from rivers and streams. Meanwhile, how very apt that Oregon calls its smallest river - 'D River' which also happens to be the other smallest river in the world; the other one is the Roe River in Montana.

The capital is Salem and the largest city is Portland. The City of Eugene, the second largest is the location of the University of Oregon.

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