Forming part of the U.S. region known as the Upper Midwest, Minnesota is the northernmost state apart from Alaska. Sharing Lake Superior water border with Michigan and Wisconsin on the northeast; the remainder of the eastern border is with Wisconsin. Iowa is to the south, North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba to the north. Composed of 87, 014 square miles, Minnesota is the twelfth-largest state in the country. It’s population consists of just over 5 million residents, making it the twenty-first most populous state in the United States. For additional facts about Minnesota, visit our yellowpages.
Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks found on earth, some 3.6 billion years old, or 80% as old as the planet. About 2.7 billion years ago, basaltic lava poured out of cracks in the floor of the primordial ocean; the remains of this volcanic rock formed the Canadian Shield in northeast Minnesota. The roots of these volcanic mountains and the action of Precambrian seas formed the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. Following a period of volcanism 1.1 billion years ago, Minnesota's geological activity has been more subdued, with no volcanism or mountain formation, but with repeated incursions of the sea which left behind multiple strata of sedimentary rock.
Visitors can enjoy high levels of physical activity, and many of these activities are outdoors. The strong interest of tourists in environmentalism has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits. In the warmer months, these activities often involve water. Weekend and longer trips to family cabins on Minnesota's numerous lakes are a way of life for many visitors. Activities include water sports such as water skiing, which originated in the state, boating, canoeing, and fishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second only to Alaska. Fishing does not cease when the lakes freeze; ice fishing has been around since the arrival of early Scandinavian immigrants.
In order to embrace their long, harsh winters Minnesotans participate in ice sports such as skating, hockey, curling, and broomball, and snow sports such as cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. For more information about the action-filled activities that Minnesota has to offer, explore Minnesota.