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Oklahoma, also know as “Sooner State”, “Land of the Red Man” and “Native America”, offers some of the most beautiful and spectacular sights and places to visit! Just browse through these awesome pictures and be amazed by it’s beauty.

1. Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge

Located in Southwest Oklahama, not far from Lawton, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has acted as a safe haven for its unique and diverse wildlife since 1901. It is the oldest facility of its kind in the United States. As well as being an important place for wildlife such as elk and bison, the refuge is also a great place to hike, rock climb and mountain bike.

2. Turner Falls

Turner Falls Park acts as a sanctuary for the citizens of Oklahoma. The land is wild but there is plenty to do.  Icy cold streams, a 77-foot high waterfall, caves, camp sites and plenty of good food all ensure that the Turner Falls Park is a great place to visit at any time of the year.

3. Ghost Town in Cogar

There are a large number of ghost towns in Oklahoma that make for great places to explore and offer an eerie kind of beauty.  There are a number of groups in the state that work to preserve the abandoned spots as well as uncovering new ones.

4. Gloss Mountain State Park

The shiny glass surface of the Selenite mountains are responsible for the name Gloss Mountains State Park. The scenery is beautiful and provides a great backdrop for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Along the way there are a number of facilities including grills and restrooms.

5. Tropical Conservatory, Oklahoma City

The unique design of the Crystal Bridge Conservatory is well renowned in the world of architecture. The 224-foot long tropical conservatory is home over 13,000 square feet of plants on display in two different climate zones: namely the Tropical Wet and Tropical Dry zones.

6. Roman Nose State Park

The Roman Nose State Park takes its name from a Cheyenne chief and is an original Oklahoma State Park. Within the park, which is situated inside a stunning canyon, there are hiking trails, an 18 hole golf course and some beautiful places to stay including a 22-room lodge built in 1956.

7. Lake Tenkiller

Lake Tenkiller, also known as Ferry Lake Tenkiller, is a reservoir in Oklahoma caused by the damming of the Illinois River. It is situated at an altitude of 193m above sea level and covers an area of 52 square kilometres.

8. Beavers Bend State Park

Beaver’s Bend is one of the most popular parks in the State of Oklahoma. As well as taking in the stunning scenery, the park also has a number of interesting attractions such as the Forest Heritage Centre Museum and events throughout the year like craft and art competitions.

9. Natural Falls State Park

The Natural Falls State Park is situated on the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas and within the stunning Ozark highlands. The famous waterfall has two viewing platform to allow visitors to see the fall from the best possible angle. There is even seating available on the lower platform.

10. Red Rock Canyon State Park

Red Rock Canyon State Park is a must visit for any outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Oklahoma. Hikers walking through the state park will see wagon wheels left by settlers in the region. The hiking routes are of different levels of difficulty and there is something for everyone to enjoy.

11. Glass Mountains State Park

Many mountains are climbable in the Glass Mountains State Park. Cathedral Mountain in Glass Mountain State Park has an elevation of 498m above sea level and makes for a great walk. Just be sure to watch out for snakes!

12. Lake Hefner

Lake Hefner is located in the northeast of Oklahoma City and has a surface area of 2,500 acres. Attractions for visitors included a heated and covered fishing deck, a wharf restaurant and a golf course. The lake is easily accessed from the Hefner Parkway.

13. Robbers Cave State Park

Yet another beautiful state park in Oklahoma, the Robbers Cave State Park is San Bois Mountains in the south-eastern part of the state. The park covers an area of over 8,000 acres and contains 189 lakes. Horse riding is a popular activity within the park as is fishing in the many lakes.

14. Talimena Scenic Drive

For visitors who like to see the sights from within the comfort of a vehicle the Talimena Scenic Drive is a perfect option, offering 50 miles of breath-taking scenery and historic towns. The route has some of the best views on offer in the entire state and is well worth a drive.

15. Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial pays tribute to the many victims of the Oklahoma City bombing that took place in 1995. The site is one of the most sacred spots in the city of Oklahoma and is a place to remember those that were killed, injured or lost loved ones in the bombing.

Duchess has a crooked jaw, but that doesn’t stop her living life to the full. Take a look and see…

A mum has been left devastated after her “happy and healthy” baby died at just three-months old.

Heartbroken Chloe Evans, from Aberdare, Wales, lost little Mackenzie-Brian Evans in December 2021.

The little tot had just learned how to smile and the 26-year-old parent has since shared the horrific experience of not knowing what happened to her baby boy.

She was even forced to wait years for answers and mental health support, and claims she waited nearly two years to see a counsellor after the baby’s tragic death.

She told Wales Online : “I wouldn’t want another parent to go through what I’ve gone through.”

Chloe Evans)

Chloe Evans)

As she had done for the last three months, Chloe put her baby to bed but the next morning discovered him not breathing.

She said: “I phoned the ambulance and I had to do CPR until they arrived.”

Tragically, he had died in his sleep.

“He was really healthy and he went to bed and I just couldn’t get over it the next day,” Chloe said.

The devastated mum praised the support and compassion she received from the emergency services during this tragic incident.

She said that the ambulance managed to get to her home in 10 minutes, adding: “The support from the paramedics was brilliant because they did everything they could, but they couldn’t save him because he’d been gone longer than we thought.

“One of the police officers that attended the scene stayed in my oldest son’s bedroom while the paramedics worked on my youngest.”

Chloe Evans)

The 26-year-old had to wait a month until the new year to bury her baby and finally laid him to rest on January 10, 2022.

But she was left longer than that wondering, and was left waiting for answers as to what had happened to him.

Over a year later, an inquest took place on June 6, 2023, which shared the postmortem examination revealed there was no specific medical explanation for the little boy’s death.

So his medical cause of death was that he died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – also known as ‘cot death’ – the unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

Chloe shared how she and her family have had good and bad days since Mackenzie-Brian’s death, but accessing support over the last two years has been a struggle.

She added: “I’ve had to see the GP quite a few times. I’ve had to be referred to the mental health team a few times. But the support I’ve had hasn’t been the best, I’ve had to wait nearly two years to see a counsellor face-to-face.”

She was also in touch with a bereavement charity before “the calls stopped”.

She added: “It would be nice to have some sort of counselling so I can like talk about how I feel.”

However, she says her grandparents have been a “brilliant” support team during this difficult time.

In a loving tribute to her son, she said: “Mackenzie-Brian was a content, beautiful boy who was in our lives for a short time.

“He will remain in our hearts forever.”

His seven-year-old brother Harley added: “Goodnight, gorgeous brother.”

A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: “We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Miss Evans and her family during this extremely difficult time.

“We encourage her to get in touch with us directly so that we can address her concerns.”

This past weekend, police showed up to musician and newly minted Call of Duty operator Nicki Minaj’s Los Angeles home in what’s being called a swatting prank that’s commonly used against gamers and livestreamers, TMZ reports.

In June, TMZ reported that someone called the cops on Minaj and claimed her child was being abused. Twenty-four hours later, police received another 911 call that alleged the “Barbie World” rapper’s house was on fire. Police deemed both instances were swatting pranks. At the time, Minaj said that she hired lawyers to make sure those responsible were exposed and held accountable.

Swatting is a dangerous form of prank that started in the early 2000s but rose to prominence in the mid-2010s with the internet boom. It involves someone calling the cops, typically on a livestreamer, with the goal of getting a large police response to show up at a particular person’s address. A variety of livestreamers have been subjected to this form of online harassment, including trans political commentator Keffals, Just Chatting broadcaster Kai Cenat, and The Streamer Awards creator QTCinderella. Not only does this dangerous prank waste police resources, in some cases it’s even resulted in an unfortunate loss of life. It’s also a criminal offense, with folks who engage in the “prank” potentially facing multiple years in prison, large fines, and any other applicable penalties.

Kotaku reached out to Minaj’s team and the SFVPD for comment.

Minaj, who has won over 400 awards including MTV’s Best Hip Hop trophy in 2022, will be a playable operator in the upcoming season five content drop of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone. Her forthcoming album Pink Friday 2 comes out on November 17. She says it will restore hope in mankind.