Some of the mountains in Minnesota are great for smaller climbing tours, but there are also numerous other opportunities to exercise in the fresh air. Numerous forests, nature reserves and the prairie with numerous animals mean that in Minnesota you almost never have to travel long distances to get out of the city and into nature. In winter, Minnesota can get very cold due to its northern location, so depending on the weather you can also do winter sports and go hiking in the snow.
According to ebizdir, various museums and other cultural institutions complete the offer in Minnesota. When it comes to the musical highlights, Minnesota has a lot to offer. Minnesota is right on the border with Canada, so you can definitely take a short trip to the neighboring country. Minnesota offers nature and many cultural opportunities, so there is something for every age group.
Minnesota key figures
Land area: 225,171 square kilometers (ranked 12th of all US states)
Share of water surface: 8.4%
Population: 5.22 million (2008 estimate, 21st place of all states in the United States)
Population density: 23 people per square kilometer (31st place of all states in the USA)
Member of the United States since: May 11, 1858
Capital city: Saint Paul (287,151 residents, 2000, metropolitan area 3.5 million residents)
Largest city: Minneapolis (372,133 residents, 2006, metropolitan area 3.2 million residents)
Highest point: 701 m, Eagle Mountain
Lowest point: 183 m, Lake Superior
Governor: Tim Pawlenty (Republican)
Lieut. Governor: Carol Molnau (Republican)
Local time: CET -7 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -6 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -7 h in both winter and summer.
Postal abbreviation: MN
Minnesota Geography and Map
Minnesota – land of 10,000 lakes
As the only federal state in the United States – with the exception of Alaska – Minnesota, the so-called Northwest Angle, protrudes north beyond the 49th parallel. Minnesota is the northernmost state in the USA after Alaska.
Minnesota borders the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba to the north, Wisconsin to the east and Iowa to the south. Western neighbors are North and South Dakota. Minnesota, located on Lake Superior, shares maritime borders with Ontario, Michigan and Wisconsin.
With an area covering an area of 225,171 square kilometers, Minnesota is the twelfth largest state in the United States and the second largest in the Midwest. In the north-south direction, the extension of the national territory is around 600 kilometers, from east to west around 560 kilometers. The Minnesota area is on average 365 meters above sea level. The highest point of the state is the 701 meter high Eagle Mountain. The lowest point above sea level at 183 meters is located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Because of its abundance of lakes Minnesota is also known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. This is not an exaggeration, because there are actually more than 11,800 lakes with an area of more than four hectares. With around 3,900 square kilometers, the Upper Lake has the largest water surface and at around 393 meters the greatest water depth in the state.
In addition to its numerous lakes, Minnesota also has 6,564 rivers with a total length of around 110,000 kilometers. The Mississippi is one of the most important rivers that cross the state. The total of 3,779 kilometers long river has its origin in Minnesota. The source lake is Lake Itasca, a body of water about 4.7 square kilometers in the northwest of the state. The Mississippi flows through Minnesota for 1090 kilometers before crossing the border into Iowa. Other major rivers in the state are the 877-kilometer-long Red River, the Minnesota River – which runs completely within the state for its entire length of 534 kilometers – the St. Croix River (264 kilometers) and the Chippewa River, a 195 kilometer tributary of the Minnesota River.
In the west and southwest, Minnesota is characterized by prairie landscapes. About a third of the national territory is forested. In the southeast, deciduous forests predominate, while in the north there are more coniferous forests with extensive areas overgrown with pine and spruce trees.
Minnesota has 66 state parks, 57 state forests – covering an area of approximately 16,000 square kilometers – and diverse nature reserves. The oldest national park in Minnesota is Itasca State Park, founded in 1891. The two national forests, Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest, cover a total area of approximately 22,200 square kilometers. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is part of the Superior National Forest. This 4,000 square kilometer area in northeast Minnesota is home to about 1,000 lakes.
Minnesota Landmarks
Minnesota is an interesting vacation destination, if only because of the almost untouched nature. Numerous tourists come to Minnesota every year to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The state has several national parks, such as Voyageurs National Park, Frontenac State Park, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Alexander Ramsey Park and a few others to offer.
But you don’t have to be a nature lover to enjoy an exciting vacation in Minnesota. The state has a wide range of different sights and attractions to offer.
In Saint Paul, for example, the Cathedral of St. Paul is worth a visit. The Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm should not be missed either.
A visit to the Capitol in St. Paul can certainly be interesting. The building was erected in 1900.
The Walker Art Center and Sculpure Garden in Minneapolis is absolutely worth seeing. It is a world-famous museum that houses the largest sculpture garden in the United States.
The Kensington Runestone Museum in Ortoville is certainly not boring. There is a Viking rune stone from 1362 on display here.
Most tourists visiting Minnesota make a beeline for the Mall of America. The Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States with an area of 390,000 square feet. In the shopping center there is even an amusement park with roller coaster and wild water slide, as well as a cinema and an aquarium. A visit to the shopping center is sure to be an experience for young and old.
The skyways in Minneapolis are absolutely impressive. These are closed bridges that are covered and connect many buildings in the city.
