Minnesota is known as the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, but there are as many as 12,000 lakes in the state. Where did they come from? Giant glaciers (sheets of ice) covered the state thousands of years ago. They ground down the earth and formed lake beds. When the glaciers melted, these lake beds filled with water. In total, Minnesota's lakes have 90,000 miles (144,841 km) of shoreline. This is more than the shorelines of California, Florida, and Hawaii combined! Because the glaciers flattened the earth, flatlands and rolling hills cover most of Minnesota. There are exceptions, such as the rocky Superior Uplands region in the northeast, where the glaciers had little effect on the hard rock of this mineral-rich region. Minnesota's total area is 86,943 square miles (225,181 sq km), making it the 12th largest state.
Wheat, timber, and iron ore (used to make steel) were the backbone of the Minnesota economy one hundred years ago. Today, Minnesota still relies on these resources, while also expanding into new areas, such as publishing, high technology, machinery production, retail trade, and finance. Many Minnesotans also work in wood manufacturing, the state's second largest industry. Farming remains important, and wheat is a main crop. The state is also a leader in the production of corn, soybeans, wild rice, dairy goods, and livestock. Food processing (preparing and packaging food) is a major industry.
5,197,621
Capital:
State Abbreviation: MN
Governor: Tim Pawlenty (Republican)
U.S. Senators: 2
Norm Coleman (Republican)
Amy Klobuchar (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)
U.S. Representatives: 8
Republicans: 3
Democrats 5
State Senators: 67
State Representatives: 134
Counties: 87