Minnesota, also known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” is the 12th-largest state in the union, and is home to more than 5.6 million residents. From the Boundary Waters and shores of Lake Superior in the north through the plains to Buffalo Ridge in the southwest, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Minnesota and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.
This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.
Split Rock Lighthouse stands on a cliff 130 feet above the shore of Lake Superior, near Silver Bay, Minnesota. #
The northern lights are seen above Lake Superior. The lights of Duluth, Two Harbors, and Silver Bay are visible on the horizon. #
A distant view of the skyline of downtown Minneapolis, seen from above a neighborhood in Southeast Minneapolis #
Mickey's Diner has been in operation in the same location in St. Paul since 1939. #
A black-bear cub climbs a tree in a forest in northern Minnesota. #
Snow kites fill the sky as skiers race across Lake Mille Lacs in Garrison, Minnesota, on April 1, 2014. #
A view of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka in downtown Winona, seen in the autumn of 2018. The structure was originally completed in 1895. #
A moose and calf, seen along the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway in Superior National Forest #
The Pride of Baltimore II fires a cannon salute to the lift-bridge operator as it enters the ship canal from Lake Superior into Duluth Harbor during the Parade of Tall Ships festival on July 25, 2013, in Duluth, Minnesota. #
An abandoned house stands in a field near the city of Thief River Falls. #
Thousands crowd the streets of the fairgrounds as the 2012 Minnesota State Fair gets underway in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, on August 23, 2012. #
Meghan Connelly of Rochester, Minnesota, relaxes with her cow Cookie in the cattle barn at the Minnesota State Fair on August 21, 2008. #
The city of Virginia, Minnesota, stands beside the open pit of the now-closed Rouchleau iron mine. More than 300 million tons of iron ore were extracted from the mine from 1893 to 1977. #
A view of rural Lindström, Minnesota, "America's Little Sweden," and its iconic teapot water tower, with the phrase "Välkommen till Lindström," photographed in February 2020 #
The world's largest prairie-chicken statue stands 13 feet tall on a pedestal in Rothsay, just off of I-94. #
A section of the Archibald Mill Ruins, originally built in 1870, stands alongside the Cannon River in the city of Dundas. #
Locals ride fat-tire bikes in subfreezing temperatures to raise funds for child medical grants during the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation's second annual Frosty Fat Tire Festival on February 3, 2018, in Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota. #
Visitors explore the Mall of America Ice Castle on January 4, 2013, in Bloomington, Minnesota. #
Sailors navigate a course on Bde Maka Ska, then known as Lake Calhoun, in Minneapolis on July 3, 2013. #
The historic Grain Belt Beer sign stands on Nicollet Island on the Mississippi River, as seen from the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis on a summer evening in 2018. #
Football fans brave the cold during the NFC wild-card playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on January 10, 2016. #
A view of St. Paul's downtown at sunset during Christmas. The building at center is Landmark Center. Built to house several government offices, it was renovated in the 1970s and is now home to galleries and arts organizations. #
A statue of Shaynowishkung, a respected Ojibwe leader known to local settlers as Chief Bemidji, stands in snow beside the frozen Lake Bemidji on February 9, 2019. #
A snowy owl lands at sunset in a field near Victoria, Minnesota. #
Clouds roil at the edge of a thunderstorm as it passes over a farm in Luverne, Minnesota. #
Spider Island, a small private island, sits in Lake Mille Lacs. #
A paddle boat travels through the St. Croix Dalles, a narrow section of the St. Croix River in Taylors Falls. #
A man carries a child on his shoulders as they search for a Christmas tree to cut at the Rum River Tree Farm in Anoka on December 8, 2013. #
Jennifer Freking comes into the Mineral Center checkpoint during the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, near Grand Portage, on January 29, 2019. #
Cattle graze in a pasture near wind turbines in Minnesota's Buffalo Ridge. #
The soybean farmer Michael Petefish stands inside a bin with soybeans from last season's crop at his farm near Claremont, in southern Minnesota, on July 18, 2018. #
A view of islands dotting Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota #
A hockey player takes to the ice at sunrise for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis on January 26, 2018. #
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.
Drought conditions in Spain, heavy snow in California, the Fallas Festival in Spain, the start of Ramadan in Indonesia, cherry blossoms in Japan, a sandstorm in Inner Mongolia, and much more
Giant demonic effigies are carried through the streets of Bali, then burned in purification ceremonies.
Recent images of our home planet, seen by crew members of the International Space Station
Early cherry blossoms in Tokyo, heavy snowfall in California, a festival of lights in Croatia, emotional displays at the Academy Awards, a heavy frost in England, and much more
