Minnesota

The Skyline of Minneapolis

Minnesota is a state of the United States of America. It is located in the Midwest and borders Canada to the north. It is also surrounded by other states: Iowa to the south, Wisconsin to the east, and North and South Dakota to the west. The state has a population of approximately 5.7 million. Most live in the metropolitan area of ​​Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Minneapolis is the state's largest city. The slightly smaller Saint Paul is a college town and the capital of Minnesota.

Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." There are more than 14,000 freshwater lakes in the state. The large Lake Superior lies on the state's northeastern border. Minnesota also boasts several large rivers, such as the Mississippi and the Minnesota River, which gives the state its name. The word Minnesota comes from the Dakota language and means "clear water." Minnesota has vast plains as well as forested uplands. The highest elevations reach approximately 700 meters above sea level.

Present-day Minnesota was originally ruled by the Anishinaabe and Sioux tribes. The first Europeans to arrive in Minnesota were French fur traders. In 1679, explorer Daniel Greysolon established a fort on Lake Superior and claimed the territory for the King of France. However, the French lost it to the British in the Seven Years' War. After U.S. independence, Minnesota became part of the larger Northwest Territory and was not properly settled by whites until the early 19th century.

Although few people work in agriculture today, it remains one of the most important parts of the state's economy. Minnesota is the nation's largest producer of sweet corn, sugar beets, and turkey. Significant timber is harvested in the forests and processed in sawmills. Minnesota also has one of the largest iron ore deposits in the U.S.