The following is trivia about the geography of Minnesota. For stats and facts, please view our Minnesota Geography Facts and Stats page.

The small extension on the northern tip of Minnesota makes Minnesota northernmost point of all 48 contiguous states, including Maine. This area is known as the “Northwest Angle” and is only accessible by land through Canada.

through Canada. The original name of the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig’s Eye. It was named after a French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, who was one of the first settlers in this area.

The Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota is the largest federal forest in the lower 48 states.

The widest part of the Mississippi River is located in Minnesota as it flows through Lake Winnibigoshish near Bena, MN where it is wider than 11 miles (nps.gov).

Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota is the largest water-based park in the National Park System.

The northernmost town in the contiguous 48 states is Angle Inlet, Minnesota located at 49.22° north latitude.

There are two different areas in Minnesota where you can stand in four (4) counties at once. These are located at the intersections of the following counties: Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Pope (45°45’35.65″ N 95°45’26.31″ W) Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, Chisago (45°43’50.30″ N 93°08’30.00″ W)

There are 201 Mud Lakes, 154 Long Lakes, and 123 Rice Lakes commonly named in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s waters flow outward in three directions: north to Hudson Bay in Canada, east to the Atlantic Ocean, and south to the Gulf of Mexico.

At the confluence of the Big Fork and Rainy Rivers on the Canadian border near International Falls stands the largest Indian burial mound in the upper midwest. It is known as the Grand Mound historic site.

The largest earthquake in Minnesota occurred in Western Minnesota on July 9, 1975. It registered a magnitude of 4.6. It caused minor damage to walls and foundations around Morris, MN (usgs.gov).

The most recent earthquake within Minnesota was a 2.5 magnitude on April 29, 2011. The epicenter was located 8 miles NW of Forada, MN (usgs.gov).