Minnesota
Chances are there are large parts of Minnesota you've never explored.
For instance, the Northwest Angle at the top of the state, or the
sights in picturesque Bluff Country. Or a gorgeous waterfall in
the southwest, at Pipestone National Monument, where you can also
learn about Minnesota's Indian heritage.
Minnesota is a crossroads for three diverse environments -- the
western plains and prairies, the northern coniferous forest and
the eastern hardwood forest. These three lands meet in the northwest
third of the state, where pine forests and wilderness lakes gradually
give way to rich farmland to the west and rolling woods in the
vacation lakes area to the south. It's a land with tales to tell
-- of Vikings, voyageurs, Paul Bunyan, and Charles Lindbergh. But
the real focus is its lakes, noted for their fine fishing. Its
booming cities and hundreds of resorts and campgrounds call today's
explorers to discover this unique area of the country.
The beauty of the land is striking: the enticing shoreline of
Lake Superior, the serene wilderness lakes of the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area, the expansive waters of Voyageurs National Park, the
scenic St. Croix River rushing through tall, rocky cliffs. Pine
and hardwoods of the Chippewa and Superior national forests blanket
the rolling hills. They are home to moose, wolves, bears, deer,
eagles, and loons. Small towns and a major city have grown up at
the edge of these woods. The history here is the story of the Ojibwe
Indians, French-Canadian voyageurs, miners, lumberman, and lighthouse
keepers. For those who come to fish the waters and hike the trails,
there are hundreds of lodges, resorts, and campgrounds. Like adventurers
of long ago, today's explorers are moved by the spirit of this
land.
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