- Mendota (/mɛnˈdoʊtə/ men-DOH-tə) is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The name is a mispronunciation of the Dakota word for the location, bdóte, which in Dakota tradition is the center of the world. The word in this use means “the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers,” and generally “mouth or junction of one river with another.” The population was 198 at the 2010 census.
- Rockhounding Saddle Mountain Washington For Petrified Wood (rockseeker.com)
Saddle Mountain, a remote and rocky ridge located in central Washington. These hills rise to 2700 feet and offer stunning views of the desert landscape and the Columbia River below. But that’s not all – the fossilized wood on these rugged hills contains a record of the area’s geological history. Petrified or opalized wood is the official gemstone of Washington, and Saddle Mountain is a treasure trove for rock enthusiasts who love agatized wood.