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Acres of Marsh or wetlands - 6,000,000
Population - 4,919,479 (as of 2000) [Minnesota is the 21st most populous state in the USA]
Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, dairy products), paper pulp, mining (iron ore)

Major Rivers - Minnesota River, Mississippi River , Rainy River, Red River of the North, St. Croix River
Major Lakes - Upper Red Lake, Lower Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Vermillion Lake, Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lake Superior, Leech Lake, Winnibigoshish Lake, Lake Pepin
Highest Point - Eagle Mountain - 2,301 feet (701 m) above sea level
Bordering States - Iowa , North Dakota , South Dakota , Wisconsin
Bordering Country - Canada

Average Elevation: 1,200 feet

Highest Point: Eagle Mountain, 2,301 feet

Lowest Point: surface of Lake Superior, 602 feet

Total Area of Inland Water: 4,779 square miles

Number of Lakes Over 10 Acres: 15,291

Largest Lake: Red Lake, 451 square miles

Average Annual Precipitation: 28.32 inches

Average Annual Snowfall: 49.6 inches

Average temperature in January: 11.2 ° F

Average Temperature in July: 73.1 ° F

Origin of the Name Minnesota - Minnesota is from a Dakota Sioux Indian word that means "cloudy water" or "sky water" and refers to the Minnesota River.

MN State flag small

State Flag

The staff is surmounted by a bronze eagle with outspread wings; the flag is rectangular in shape and is on a medium blue background with a narrow gold border and a golden fringe. A circular emblem is contained in the center of the blue field. The circular emblem is on a general white background with a yellow border. The word MINNESOTA is inscribed in red lettering on the lower part of the white field. The white emblem background surrounding a center design contains 19 five pointed stars arranged symmetrically in four groups of four stars each and one group of three stars. The latter group is in the upper part of the center circular white emblem. The group of stars at the top in the white emblem consists of three stars of which the uppermost star is the largest and represents the north star. A center design is contained on the white emblem and is made up of the scenes from the great seal of the state of Minnesota, surrounded by a border of intertwining Cypripedium reginae, the state flower, on a blue field of the same color as the general flag background. The flower border design contains the figures 1819, 1858, 1893.

1858 - the year Minnesota became a state,
1819 - the year Fort Snelling was established and
1893 - the year the official flag was adopted.

The coloring is the same on both sides of the flag, but the lettering and the figures appear reversed on one side.

Minnesota Statutes
1.135 State seal .
Subdivision 3. Design . The design of the seal is as described in this subdivision.

The seal is composed of two concentric borders. The outside forms the border of the seal and inside forms the border for the illustrations within the seal. The area between the two borders lettering.
The seal is two inches in diameter. The outside border has a radius of one inch and resembles serrated edge of a coin. The width of the border is 1/16 of an inch.
The inside border has a radius of three-fourths of an inch and is composed of a series of closely dots measuring 1/32 of an inch in diameter.
Within the area between the borders "The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota" is printed in capital letters. Under that is the date "1858" with two dagger symbols separating the date and the letters. The lettering is 14-point Century Bold.
In the area within the inside border is the portrayal of an 1858 Minnesota scene made up of various illustrations that serve to depict a settler plowing the ground near the falls of St. Anthony while he watches an Indian on horseback riding in the distance.
For the purposes of description, when the area within the inside border is divided into quadrants, the following illustrations should be clearly visible in the area described.
1. In the upper parts of quadrants one and two, the inscription "L'Etoile du Nord" is found on the likeness of a scroll whose length is equal to twice the length of the inscription, but whose ends are twice folded underneath and serve to enhance the inscription. The lettering is 7-point Century Bold.
2. In quadrant two is found a likeness of a sun whose ambient rays form a background for a male Indian in loincloth and plume riding on horseback at a gallop. The Indian is sitting erect and is holding a spear in his left hand at an upward 60-degree angle to himself and is looking toward the settler in quadrant four.
3. In quadrant one, three pine trees form a background for a picturesque resemblance of St. Anthony Falls in 1858.
4. In quadrants three and four, cultivated ground is found across the lower half of the seal, which provides a background for the scenes in quadrants three and four.
5. In quadrant three, a tree stump is found with an ax embedded in the stump and a period muzzle loader resting on it. A powder flask is hanging towards the end of the barrel.
6. In quadrant four, a white barefoot male pioneer wearing clothing and a hat of that period is plowing the earth, using an animal-drawn implement from that period. The animal is not visible. The torso of the man continues into quadrant two, and he has his legs spread apart to simulate movement. He is looking at the Indian.

Subdivision 4. Additional effects; size . Every effort shall be made to reproduce the seal with justification to the 12 o'clock position and with attention to the authenticity of the illustrations used to create the scene within the seal. The description of the scene in this section does not preclude the graphic inclusion of the effects of movement, sunlight, or falling water when the seal is reproduced. Nor does this section prohibit the enlargement, proportioned reduction, or embossment of the seal for its use in unofficial acts.

Subdivision 5. Historical symbolism of seal . The sun, visible on the western horizon, signifies summer in the northern hemisphere. The horizon's visibility signifies the flat plains covering much of Minnesota. The Indian on horseback is riding due south and represents the great Indian heritage of Minnesota. The Indian's horse and spear and the Pioneer's ax, rifle, and plow represent tools that were used for hunting and labor. The stump symbolizes the importance of the lumber industry in Minnesota's history. The Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls are depicted to note the importance of these resources in transportation and industry. The cultivated ground and the plow symbolize the importance of agriculture in Minnesota. Beyond the falls three pine trees represent the state tree and the three great pine regions of Minnesota; the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Lake Superior.

MN State Stuff

State Nickname - Gopher State, North Star State, Land of 10,000 Lakes

State Motto - "L'Etoile du Nord" - The Star of the North

State Song - Hail Minnesota

Dinosaur Fossils Found in Minnesota - Hadrosaur (a duck-billed dinosaur)

State Bird - Common loon ( Gavia immer )

State Insect - Monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus )

State Fish - Walleye ( Stizostedion v. vitreum )

State Flower - Pink and white lady's slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

State Tree - Norway pine ( Pinus resinosa )

State Mushroon - Morel ( Morchella esculenta )

State Grain - Wild rice ( Zizania aquatica )

State Gemstone - Lake Superior Agate

State Soil - Minnesota - Lester
(unofficial)

State Beverage - Milk

State Muffin - Blueberry

State Sheep - Tamarack Prolific ;-)