ABOUT Minnesota
Capital: St. Paul
State abbreviation/Postal code: Minn./MN
Nickname: North Star State / Land of 10,000 Lakes
Origin of name: Based on the Dakota Sioux Indian word for "sky-tinted water", referring to the Minnesota River or the state's many lakes.
Briefs on Minnesota:
Designed or created by glaciers several thousands of years ago the land of Minnesota is now known as the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes. With a land area of 225,365 square kilometers the Minnesota State is the second largest state in the Midwestern United States.
Eastlakes Minnesota borders the largest of the Great Lakes i.e. the Lake Superior while the Westlakes Minnesota is a home to Bemidji, an old logging center with a historic downtown. Along with this Minnesota shares a boundary with Michigan, on the south it is bordered by Iowa and on the west by North Dakota and South Dakota.
The north of the state is dominated by some wonderful national parks and lakeshores such as the Voyageurs, a park that represents some of the most archaic exposed rock formations in the world. Besides these the Isle Royale which is a part of Michigan and Apostle Islands, which belongs to Wisconsin, can also be visited.
The St. Croix National Scenic River which is a national park and a hub for adventurous activities such as rafting, canoeing and kayaking, located nearby is also a worth visiting destination. As the riverway is a habitat for a variety of exclusive birds and animals, people have a lifetime opportunity to see some unique species.
Located in the center of Minnesota is the Eagle Bend. The place is known for offering best fishing in the state along with camping, grand theaters and huge shopping centers.
Besides these the Minnesota cities are a delight in their own selves. For instance the capital city of Minnesota, St Paul, is a bundle of beguiling attractions. From historic sites, museums, and art galleries to wonderful resorts, hotels, bars and casinos, the place has it all. With these timeless lures the city is a perfect vacation destination for young as well as the old.
The largest city of the state is Minneapolis. From urban sculpture garden to one of the biggest malls in America this city rich in wonderful lures offers much more than expected. The Mississippi river, more than twenty lakes, cultural events, professional sports and vibrant festivals augment the enticement of this city blessed by nature.
But Minnesota is not just rich in attractions. It has a rich history too. The state was occupied by the Native Americans for a long time. The Cheyenne and the Gros Ventre tribes ruled the area before the Ojibwa and Dakota tribes entered the region.
The state had its first European visitors in 14th century. They were Swedish and Norwegian Vikings.
At the end of the American Revolution in 1783, Minnesota was granted to the United States. This happened under the Second Treaty of Paris, which was signed 3rd September 1783 and which formally ended the American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies in North America. The northern border between Minnesota and the British North America was the bone of contention for a long time.
In the beginning of 19th century the north eastern part of the state was a part of the Northwest Territory followed by the Illinois Territory, Michigan territory and the Wisconsin Territory while the western and southern region were under the Iowa territory.
When Wisconsin and Iowa got the status of statehood, the Minnesota territory was taken out of the left out land. On 11th May 1858 the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory became the 32nd state of the United States while the western part remained unorganized for a long time.
More links about Minnesota