Minnesota is an incredible state, with endless lakes, deep forests, ancient rock formations, and more. When comparing it to the other 50 states in the U.S., Minnesota has some pretty unique geography, from a triple continental divide to rocks that are nearly as old as Earth itself. Geography By Geoff took a look at 15 incredible geography facts about Minnesota that make the state stand out.
15 Geography Facts About Minnesota
- The Triple Continental Divide – North of Hibbing at the Hill of Three Waters, water can flow to three oceans: the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, or the Arctic.
- The Driftless Area – Southeastern Minnesota escaped glaciation during the last ice age, leaving sharp topography, deep valleys, and limestone bluffs instead of flat prairie.
- The Northwest Angle – The northernmost point of the contiguous U.S. is only accessible by driving through Canada due to a surveying error in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
- Ancient Morton Gneiss – The Minnesota River Valley contains Morton Gneiss dating back 3.5 billion years—nearly 80% of Earth’s entire history.
- The Flattest Place on Earth – The Red River Valley is one of Earth’s flattest places, formed by ancient Lake Agassiz, which was larger than all the current Great Lakes combined.
- The Lost 40 – An 1882 surveying error mistakenly marked 144 acres as a lake, so lumber barons never logged it. Today it contains some of the Midwest’s oldest trees.
- From Pig’s Eye to St. Paul – Minnesota’s capital was named after bootlegger Pierre “Pigsy” Parrant until a priest convinced settlers to rename it St. Paul in 1841.
- St. Anthony Falls Built Minneapolis – The only major waterfall on the Mississippi River powered flour mills that made Minneapolis the world’s milling capital (1880-1930), creating Pillsbury and General Mills.
- The Source of the Mississippi – Henry Schoolcraft identified Lake Itasca as the Mississippi’s source in 1832. The name combines Latin words for “truth” (veritas) and “head” (caput).
- The Iron Range Won WWII – The Mesabi Iron Range supplied over 70% of the iron ore used by the U.S. during World War II, literally forging the Arsenal of Democracy.
- The Minneapolis Skyway System – The world’s largest system of enclosed second-level bridges spans 9.5 miles and links 80 city blocks, allowing people to avoid Minnesota’s brutal winters.
- The Furthest Inland Seaport – The Port of Duluth-Superior is North America’s furthest inland freshwater seaport. Ocean-going vessels travel over 2,300 miles from the Atlantic to reach it.
- The Mall of America – At 5.6 million square feet, it could fit seven Yankee stadiums inside. It attracts 32 million visitors annually and has its own zip code and counterterrorism unit.
- Rochester’s Medical Geography – Rochester is a city built entirely around the Mayo Clinic, with climate-controlled walkways and infrastructure designed for global medical tourists.
- The Lake Culture Migration – With one boat for every six people, hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans drive north to cabin country every summer Friday, creating the “up north” traffic rush.
