Minnesota lakes are the result of the final ice age, which began some 2 million years ago. As glaciers advanced and retreated across the state's ancient landscape, deep gouges were carved and deposits left, creating the foundation of thousands of lakes. As the ice age ended and the glaciers began to recede, meltwater filled these bowls and scrapes in the earth, leaving Minnesota with a wealth of natural waterways.
The Beauty and Variety of Minnesota Lakes
Today Minnesota is called the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and for good reason. Bodies like Green Lake with its 5,400 acres in the central part of the state have become centers of community life, offering citizens recreation, jobs, and natural beauty. Every year the Green Lake community, which includes the small town of Spicer, enjoy fishing, swimming, ice skating, and boating on their lake, as well as numerous festivals that celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Lake Vermillion, in the Northeast corner of the state, has been named one of the most scenic in the U.S. by the National Geographic Society. Vermillion is composed of 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands, and 313 miles of shoreline. Visitors to this spectacular lake can enjoy all sorts of water sports, fishing, hunting, trail skiing, and birding.
Finally, perhaps the most spectacular lake in Minnesota is Lake Superior, the largest of the five Great Lakes. Superior's waters stretch to the horizon, giving visitors the sense that they have stumbled upon an inland ocean. Superior is so large, in fact, that there are rumors it is host to its very own sea monster. However, monster or no, visitors to this mighty lake can enjoy everything from scuba diving to dog sledding depending on the season.
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