Just South of Canada, nestled between Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas sits Minnesota – the Land of 10,000 Lakes. While the state slogan is proudly placed on everything from license plates to the Minnesota quarter, it’s something of a misnomer. In fact, Minnesota is home to more than 12,000 lakes (91 named “Long Lake”!) and 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles. The state also boasts more than 9 million acres of wetlands. The source of the Mississippi had been sought for years, and was finally discovered at Minnesota’s Lake Itasca, where it begins its 2,552-mile path to the sea. Local legend credits Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe for creating the lakes with their footprints, but glaciers had a lot more to do with it.
Minnesotans are very proud of their ample water supply: The state bird is the water-dwelling Common Loon, the state flower is the Lady Slipper (found only in swamps and bogs) and the state food is wild rice – grown in watery rice-paddies. The state’s original pro-basketball team was even named the Lakers, which made a lot more sense before the team moved to Los Angeles. Minnesota is also the birthplace of water skiing!
While the 32nd state (12th largest in size) is proud of its watery heritage, Minnesota takes water conservation and preservation seriously. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and a whole network of other governmental and grass-roots agencies help protect the state’s most precious natural resource by monitoring its quality, setting standards and controlling what may go into it. Major campaigns have been launched over the past five decades to reduce mercury and other heavy metals in the water system, to educate Minnesotans about lawn chemicals and their impact on the watershed, to reduce water waste and to protect the state’s lakes and rivers from milfoil, pollutants and invader species. Minnesotans love their water and this state is serious about protecting it.
For more information on clean water initiatives in Minnesota, check out the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
