Facts About
Minnesota and Minnesotans

...and links to "beyond basic" information about Minnesota

• State Abbreviation - MN
• State Capitol - Saint Paul
• Population - 4,919,479 (as of 2000) [Minnesota is the 21st most populous state in the USA]
• Area - 86,943 square miles [Minnesota is the 12th biggest state in the USA]
• Highest Point - Eagle Mountain - 2,301 feet (701 m) above sea level
• Lowest Point - 602 feet above sea level at Lake Superior
• Bordering States - Iowa, Michigan(across Lake Superior), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
• Bordering Country - Canada
• Number of rivers and streams: 6,564 (92,000 miles).
• Major rivers: Mississippi River,Minnesota River, Rainy River, Red River, St. Croix River.
• Number of lakes (over 10 acres): 11,842 (4,967,510 acres.
• Largest Lakes: Lake Superior (borders north eastern Minnesota); Lake of the Woods (straddles Minnesota's border with Canada); Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Leech Lake, Lake Vermillion, Rainy Lake, Winnibigoshish Lake, Lake Pepin.
• Number of recreational boats per capita: one boat per every six people, more than any other state.
• Northernmost town in the contiguous 48 states: Angle Inlet, Minnesota at 49.22° North latitude.
• Number of individuals who go fishing: 2.3 million

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and 2000 Census.

• Ojibwe Tribes
• Ojibwe Oral Traditions
• Ojibwe Art
• Anishinabe Tribe

A few More Facts About Minnesota:

• Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
• Minneapolis has the fourth most active jazz scene in the country.
• The license plates say “Land of 10,000 Lakes” but actually there are 11,842 lakes more than 10 acres in size in Minnesota.
• Duluth Minnesotais the largest inland freshwater port in the world.
• The Mall of America in Bloomington is the size of 78 football fields — 9.5 million square feet.
• The first open heart surgery and the first bone marrow transplant in the United States were done at the University of Minnesota.
• Water skis were invented in 1922 by Ralph W. Samuelson, who steam-bent 2 eight-foot-long pine boards into skis. He took his first ride behind a motorboat on Lake Pepin, a widening of the Mississippi River at Lake City.
• The snowmobile was invented in Roseau, Minnesota in the 1950's.
• Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line roller skates. Minnesota students Scott and Brennan Olson invented them in 1980. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.
• Author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
• In 1898, the Kensington Runestone was found on a farm near Alexandria Minnesota. The Kensington Runestone carvings allegedly tell of a journey of a band of Vikings in 1362. Go to the Runestone Museum and judge for yourself.

Learn more....

• Discover the best places to see some Minnesota wildlife.
• Learn more about Minnesota cities and towns
• Get some vacation tips about little known Minnesota
• Our recommendations for books about Minnesota
• Help us have a more green Minnesota
• Still want more Minnesota fun facts>
• Read reviews of Minnesota attractions and activities.

Welcome to Minnesota!

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