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Overview
The aquatic State of Minnesota in the north of the USA has been
dubbed the 'land of 10,000 lakes'. The poetic name of the State is
a Sioux phrase meaning 'land of sky-tinted water'. Obviously this
means Minnesota is rather wet, thanks to antediluvian glaciers
which scoured the landscape, leaving numerous basins ready to be
filled by great rivers like the Mississippi.
The result is Lake Superior, with its strands and scenic
shoreline, as well as dozens of other small bodies of water, linked
by hiking trails, ideal for outdoor recreation like camping,
kayaking, fishing and canoeing. In wintertime the countryside
becomes a wonderland for skiing and dog sledding.
The original inhabitants of this watery world were the Sioux
Indians. French pioneers penetrated the thick forests and found a
treasure-trove of furry creatures like beavers and muskrats, which
sparked a prosperous fur trade in the region, accompanied by
fishing and logging. Iron ore was then detected in the hills, and
the influx of settlers eventually drove out the Sioux. Today the
northeastern extremity of Minnesota still remains as largely
unspoilt wilderness, much as it was when the first Europeans came
across it in the 16th century.
Most of the population of Minnesota are urbanised, more than
half inhabiting the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St Paul, that
occupy opposing banks on the Mississippi River. The cities reflect
the jovial culture of the roots of the early settlers, who were
largely German, Irish and Scandinavian. The Twin Cities are
renowned for their entertainment, attractions and shopping
opportunities. Minneapolis in particular is a shopper's dream with
the mighty Mall of America situated in its suburb of
Bloomington.
Pleasant harbour towns and villages hug the north shore of Lake
Superior along the scenic Highway 61 drive, that offers
breathtaking vistas on its route to the Canadian border.
