Short, mild winters, more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and more shoreline than the east and west coast combined. And not to mention more than 77,000 acres of parks and recreation areas … all in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is the 18th largest state in the nation with more than 69,000 square miles divided into 77 counties. If Oklahoma were a European country it would be larger than Belgium, the Netherlands, and England.
The Nation's Most Diverse Terrain
Oklahoma is contoured and chiseled like no other state. It's one of only four states with more than 10 distinct ecosystems that range from pine-covered rolling mountains and cypress swamps in the southeast to tall grass prairies and high plains mesas in the northwest.
More than one quarter of the state is covered by forest. Oklahoma has four mountain ranges: the Ouachita, Arbuckle, Wichita and Ozark Plateau. Forests cover 24 percent of the state. Of course this means hiking and camping are among the favorite weekend activities for Oklahomans. The highest point in Oklahoma is Black Mesa, located in the Panhandle at 4,973 feet. The lowest point in the state is east of Idabel in southeast Oklahoma at 287 feet above sea level.
Dust bowl? Think again. There are more man-made lakes in Oklahoma than in any other state—perfect for the abundance of water activities available at state parks and resorts. 200 lakes and resevoirs mean Oklahoma has 78,578 miles of rivers and streams and roughly 11,611 miles of shoreline.
Six regions -- Red Carpet Country, Green Country, Frontier Country, Lake & Trail Country, Great Plains Country, and Kiamichi Country -- offer as diverse and distinct recreational opportunities as any resident or tourist could hope for.
"If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute and it'll change." Will Rogers
Four Distinct Seasons
Oklahoma has four distinct seasons and plenty of sunshine. The average high temperature is 71 degrees F. The average annual temperature is 60 degrees F.
According to the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing, there has been no major impact to manufacturing or work stoppages in the state due to extreme weather. On average, temperatures exceed 100 degrees fewer than 10 times annually, snowfall occurs an average of 3.2 days per year, and temperatures below freezing average less than 15 days per year.
Spring gets a head start in Oklahoma, with the Redbuds and Bradford Pears blooming in early March, bathing the state in pink and white. The golf courses and state parks fill up quickly. Yes, Oklahoma is located in "Tornado Alley" and sees its share of occasional severe weather. But we're also home to the most sophisticated weather monitoring and early-warning systems in the world. As such, Oklahomans get plenty of advance notice of severe weather and know how to play it safe. And no spring is complete without a visit to the Muskogee Azalea Festival that offers a visual feast and homage to the new season.
Summers are warm, dry, and typically breezy, with cooler evenings and breathtaking sunsets. The warm temperatures mean lakes are filled with boaters, swimmers, and anglers. The great weather and long days are perfect for summer festivals, star gazing, outdoor concerts, long walks in the park, and Little League games.
Fall settles in around mid to late September and sticks around until almost Christmas. The mild temperatures, rain and occasional frost produce magnificent colors of fall foliage along the nationally famous Talimena Drive through the Ozarks Mountains in southeast Oklahoma.
Winters are typically very mild with occasional snow. January and February can get a little chilly, but that's the best time to curl up in front of the fire with family and friends.
Clear Air and Natural Resources
Oklahoma City is the largest geographic urban region in the United States that is in attainment with air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Oklahoma ranks fourth in the nation in the production of all wheat, fourth in cattle and calf production, fifth in the production of pecans, sixth in peanuts and eighth in peaches. And what's an abundant crop without a great festival to go with it? The annual Porter Peach festival, the Okmulgee Pecan Festival, and Stillwell's Strawberry Festival are just a few of the harvest-related events Oklahomans look forward to each year.
Oklahoma's two most populous cities are Oklahoma City, with 472,220 residents, and Tulsa, with 390,437. The next largest cities are Norman, population 87,290 and Lawton, population 86,028.
Oklahoma is the 18th largest state in the nation with more than 69,000 square miles divided into 77 counties. If Oklahoma were a European country it would be larger than Belgium, the Netherlands, and England.