Meandering moose, roaming black bear, soaring bald eagles, and howling wolves make up only a partial list of residents that will greet you in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Here amidst its dark clear lakes and dense evergreen forest is a wealth of raw natural beauty and charm. Minnesota has one of the largest state park systems in the nation with 56 State Forests and 70 State Parks (60 with camping facilities). In addition the federal government maintains the Chippewa National Forest, Superior National Forest, and the Voyageur National Park. Minnesota has 5 million acres of land residing in the public domain.

MN, newly born deer suprised by its new surroundings.

Spread throughout Minnesota's wilderness areas are over 10,000 inland lakes. Formed thousands of years ago as glaciers carved deep gorges in the land and ice melted to fill these excavations. The lakeshores strewn with huge granite boulders that were carried here by glacial drift action. These boulders are the oldest exposed rocks in the world. Created when the hot molten earth began solidifying 3.5 Billion years ago! One look at these rocks will convince you of their unique and mysterious qualities. Their appearance is similar to moon rocks, meteors or something you might expect to encounter on a distant planet. The only difference being their glassy smooth finish. The result of millions of years of wind and water erosion.

The first human settlers to this region came to Minnesota over 12,000 years ago. A conservative estimate since anthropological data places prehistoric man near the border of Alaska 20,000 years ago. Primarily hunters and gathers, these people lived in caves and hunted huge mammoths. Animals that were similar to bison but much larger. Weighing thousands of pounds with horns that stretched over 10 feet in diameter.

French fur trappers and backwoodsman followed. Skilled canoeists that quickly became able to successfully navigate Minnesota's maze of lakes and rivers. Nicknamed "voyageurs" which was the French name for travelers for their constant journeys. They trapped beaver, coyote, timber wolf, moose, and bear. A series of fur trading post were built on their canoe routes and Minnesota became the major exporter of furs to France.

Over the years the Great Lakes Indians discontent grew over this increased competition. Animals were quickly disappearing from their hunting grounds. In 1763, a group of Ottawa Indians led by Pontiac drove the French out of Minnesota to as far east as Pennsylvania.

The Indians next major battle was with the American colonists in the War of 1812. This was one of America's most difficult and bloody wars. Fighting the Sioux and Chippewa Indians who neither wore red coats nor stood in formation in the forests. They were experts at camouflage and guerrilla warfare. The Indians stealth in maneuvering through the forests brought heavy casualties among the colonists. When the war ended, the Sioux and Chippewa were forced to surrender much of their land due to their alliance with the British and the toll they took on the American armies.

Following the American victory, the country was opened to lumberman who came predominately from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. These immigrants greatly outnumbered all others and today their ancestors comprise 90% of Minnesota's population. The number of blond hair, blue eyed, Minnesotians will amaze you.

After the state's fur and timber reserves were exhausted, there was a shift to mining and agriculture. Vast iron deposits located in the Mesabi and Vermilion ranges of Northeastern Minnesota brought the economy to new heights. The state became the nation's leading iron producer by the 1890s.

After 50 years of mining, the depletion of high-grade ore brought Minnesota's economy to new towns. Employment has only recently rebounded on revenue from its revitalized forests, advances in mining techniques, agriculture, and diversification into computers and book publishing. Minnesota ranks first in sugar beet production, third in oats, and fourth in barley production.

Development of innovative mining equipment has allowed the low-grade "taconite" iron ore to be mined profitably for the first time. The majority of activity occurs in the Mesabi range. Since so much more ore must be moved, the machinery used is enormous. It makes the high-grade hematite ore processing equipment look miniature in comparison. Its colossal dump trucks are an impressive sight.

Iron ore is again being shipped via water and rail throughout the U.S. and abroad. Most of the ore goes to Duluth which has the nation's largest loading docks. Freighters move ore on the Great Lakes to Michigan, Ohio, and on to the Atlantic Ocean and nation's abroad. Trains transport the ore to locations as far as Birmingham, Alabama where refineries are remain active despite the depletion of Alabama's own ore. In total, Minnesota supplies 75% of the iron ore produced in the United States. Followed by Michigan which produces the balance. Together Minnesota and Michigan produce 99% of all the iron ore in the U.S.

A by-product of the revitalization of Minnesota's forests is the speedy recovery of many of America's endangered animals. Bald eagles have rebounded from the onslaught of DDT pesticides that severely reduced their numbers in the 1970s. The timber wolf population has grown from near extinction to over 1,500 wolves. The largest population of any state outside Alaska. The wolves remain extremely wary of humans so visitors rarely see them. But the sound of howling wolves is not uncommon.

Among the other boisterous creatures of the Northwoods are Minnesota's 13,000 loons (half the nation's population). Loons date back 60 million years to the age of dinosaurs and are one of the oldest and loudest bird species in existence. If you have never heard the call of a loon, you are in for an ear-shocking surprise. Loons can be heard for many miles and are present throughout the Northwoods.

The most unique and popular recreation area in Northern Minnesota is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). The BWCA is the largest wilderness waterway in the United States which over a million people visit each year. A land far removed from civilization that only the Allagash Waterway in Maine and Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia come close to in natural beauty and isolation. The BWCA's isolation has been further enhanced by congressional approval of a controversial measure which ended motor boat traffic in the area.