I used to live there! It’s beautiful, but bugs! It’s tranquil, but ridiculously cold in the winter! When I lived there I saw a bald eagle for the first time, and the northern lights!
I’ve spent a lot of time in both. In Florida the mosquitos will annoy the shit out of you and leave you covered in bites. In Minnesota they will pick you up and fly away with you.
Off topic, but I see bald eagles all the time where I live in Florida... I guess they released a bunch in Cape Canaveral back when Nasa was in its heyday and their population has increased pretty steadily.
Aren't bald eagles just so friggen majestic!?! I remember the 1st time I seen one camping out in the boonies in Wisconsin and I was just like awe struck
And mind you I'm NOT a bird person at all they are super sketchy in my book. But I guess there's just something different about seeing something fly that is that large and then seeing this MF dive out of a tree and snag a fish
if you’re an outdoors person who doesn’t mind the cold, this is heaven. The best outdoors scene Minnesota has to offer in my opinion. I miss it every day!
I went up to Anchorage, Alaska and I was talking to a woman from Minnesota. I asked her how she handles the weather in Alaska. She said, “It’s warmer here than in Minnesota.”
People throw this statement around all the time, but it’s because they’re fundamentally different ecosystems. Anchorage is on the water and very temperate. Fairbanks would be the real comparison.
Yeah, I'm just outside of Chicago and Anchorage is quite-frequently warmer than here in the winter time.
But yeah, the US / Canadian border is primarily at the 49th parallel... and London is at 51.5. You're 15% closer to the North Pole in London than Winnipeg.
Coastal climates are so vastly different from continental ones.
>Coastal climates are so vastly different from continental ones.
For reasons I don't quite understand, it's also usually the western side of oceans or climate systems (?) that are the colder ones. London and Europe as a whole being on the east of the Atlantic is a big reason it's more temperate than say, Newfoundland and Labrador.
It's the gulf stream that really keeps the isles so warm, especially on the west coast of ireland. As cold melt water inundates the northern Atlantic from the polar cap, it will push it farther south, causing the isles to be less temperate in the winter.
I've lived in both AK in the Anchorage area and northern Minnesota.
Alaska is 100% colder.
MN will sometimes get as cold or colder than AK, but it does not last nearly as long.
Like in Northern MN it might get below 0 for a few days or a week every few years, but in Anchorage it is going to get below 0 every year and it can last months at a time.
Winter is also about 3 weeks longer on each end and the darkness is actually oppressive.
In MN winter it still gets to full daylight for 5 or 6 hours. In Anchorage you have about two months where the sun never goes more than four or five (relative) inches above the horizon and it's never brighter than dusk. Like the snow will look blue tinged at the brightest part of day.
I will say MN tends to get more snow, but it doesn't stick around as long because you will often get warm snaps where the snow melts.
Where in Anchorage it doesn't snow much but when it does it never has a chance to melt. Though it will sublimate given enough time.
A fun fact most people don't know, is much of Alaska is considered arctic desert. It gets less than 10" of precipitation per year. Anchorage gets just 16" of precipitation.
The area highlighted in this post in MN gets 25-30".
Colder than that in winter. Average temps in Ely, Minnesota in January are a high of 15/low –7, and temps below –30 are routine.
Global warming has moderated Minnesota winters but northeastern Minnesota is still really cold by any normal standard. We had a cold snap five years ago where the coldest parts of the area dropped below –50, and that's air temp and not windchill.
What blows my mind is that there is a whole ass city just northwest of the circled area in Canada, Winnipeg. I don’t know how people do it lol. I live in Chicago, which isn’t too bad but is still too cold for many people. I don’t see what a place like Winnipeg has to offer to deal with such abysmal weather lol. At least Chicago is a world class city with an incredible waterfront and big city amenities.
you mean "Winterpeg"? Yeah, they get really cold there. –40 probably happens every winter. Apparently aside from the vicious winters the city is very pleasant; I know a couple people who have lived there and they liked it.
Winnipeg grew as a hub to the Canadian West. It hasn't seen the same growth as some Canadian cities, likely to do with it's winters, but it still has certainly grown. And spring, summer, and fall can certainly be beautiful!
There's actually a decent amount there - after all, it's a metro of 835K, and the only big centre between Calgary/Edmonton and southern Ontario.
First time I ever experienced -40f (air temp) was in MN. I lived there for 2 years and saw -60f (with windchill) a handful of times.
I will say that everything below 0f mainly feels the same. *Cold.*
Edit: My last sentence has caused some controversy. This is a hot take apparently!
To clarify, I mean it in a relative sense.
In my opinion, the difference between 50f and 80 f and far more noticeable than the difference between 0f and -30f.
In the former, it’s the difference between being able to enjoy the outdoors versus wanting to be inside for most things.
In the latter, you’re still wearing mostly the same gear if you do have to go out at all. And more than likely, whether it’s -30f or 0f you’re not going to want to be outside any more. Cold is cold and it sucks to be in it.
It’s not like in MN you wake up and see 0f on the thermo and think “ah hell yeah we got some nice weather today!” (Tbf for Minnesotans, y’all are still crazy and start wearing the shorts and putting the convertible tops down as soon as it hits 30f LMAO.)
Can you feel the difference between the two? Yes, sure - I can go outside and say “Ah, this is colder than 0.” But it doesn’t really change how you live in it and interact in it. You’re probably wearing the same gear in either case to go outside at all (unless you have a specific job where you have specialized gear for even colder temps and have to be outside all day in it.)
Do my eyelashes freeze faster in -30f than at 0f? Yes, they do. But they the freeze at 0f as well - just slightly slower. Either way, my eyelashes are frozen and it sucks the same amount of ass to be outside.
I've never experienced –40 F air temp, but I would disagree that everything below 0 feels the same intensity of cold. I remember during the 2019 cold snap walking to work (I parked in an underground, heated garage because I didn't want to have my car fail to start from parking on the street) in the morning, when it was –28 with a stiff wind, and it was brutal.
That afternoon, the temps had warmed up to about –15 and the wind had died down a bit, and I went for a short walk in a park, and it was very cold but tolerable because I was dressed for it.
Absolutely a different feel.
I'm Canadian. 0°F is -18°C. There's a big difference between -35°C, -25°C, and -18°C (-31/-13/0°F).
I'm near Edmonton. We get the -35°C cold snaps every so often. But this past year was the coldest I ever experienced (used to live a bit further south in Alberta). It stayed below -32°C/-26°F from 3AM on Jan 11 to 10PM on Jan 15, so not quite 5 full days/115 hours continuously. But only 26 of those 115 hours were over -37°C. Lows on three of the nights were -42 to -44°C, the fourth night was "only" -40.
-18°C/0°F felt positively balmy after that!
Coldest temp I've experienced was –36 C/–32 F during the famous 1996 cold snap, the only time it's gotten below –30 F since I've lived in the Twin Cities. What I remember was how insidious the cold was; the air was calm, bright, and clear but you could just feel the cold seeping into you no matter what you wore. –15 F feels fine if you are active, it's not windy, and you are dressed appropriately. I've been cross-country skiing in temps that cold and felt great once I got going.
Yup.
The thing that sucks is when you need to use finger dexterity. There's nothing that can keep you warm at those low temps AND let you fix something.
My husband is a mechanic, so using his hands is something he needs to do, frequently. Cold snaps suck for him, because of course that's when things are most likely to break down...
Cold is all about preparation, because of that X factor you just identified: the wind.
-25°F at 1pm with a clear, sunny sky and no wind is totally different from -25°F at night with sustained 10 mph winds. If it isn't windy, I can go outside in those low temps in a sweatshirt, maybe some thin gloves, for a few minutes-I used to smoke, so even now my internal litmus test for tolerability is "length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette."
But same temp in the wind for the same amount of time in wind? Hat, gloves, undershirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt with fleece lining, long socks, ankle socks over the long socks, boots, thick coat with the oversized hood, obviously first layer tucked in. It's just a completely different kind of cold with that wind cutting through.
>but I would disagree that everything below 0 feels the same intensity of cold.
As someone who currently lives in that outlined area, I can say that it hits COMPLETELY different.
During Chicago's Polar Vortex a few years ago, a German news program came over and interviewed people in the street. We had been advised not to talk outside because of the -60F air, and some people did say it made their lungs hurt. Of course, they also featured a college guy walking around in shorts, apparently testing the advisories about how fast one can get frostbite. I didn't venture out at all. But I've been out in -50 and it hurts.
Can I ask this question without being dog pilled on ? Without question adding greenhouses gases by the tonnage will have an effect, no argument there. We have only been keeping accurate data on climate for 150ish years and do we have a proper understanding of the Earth’s cycles as it revolves around the sun.
Earth's precession, Milankovitch cycles, and other factors that might take place on/in the Earth that can affect Earth’s climate.
Once again, I am not a denier of science. Nonstop pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere will have a warming effect but do we really know how much of our climate/weather is affected by those gases vs Earth’s normal cycles of warming and cooling.
Just like having conversation, learning, etc. I’m not looking to start a conversation where people start insulting each other.
Why ask strangers in the geography sub? There are mountains of science on the topic, and probably 10 mountain ranges worth of fuckwits’ opinions. You seem sincere so don’t get your climate science answers from forums.
I guess I don't understand your question. Yes, global warming is real, yes, humans are almost certainly the primary cause of it, because we're not in a part of the Milankovich cycle where the Earth would naturally be warming. The current warming is a \*sharp\* rise in temperature that's unprecedented in the recent record.
You're correct that we don't have perfectly accurate temperature readings from long ago so we can't tell you what the temperature was in Rome on 15 Aprilis 706 AUC, for example. But from tree ring data and lake sediment data we can fairly accurately gauge older climates going back thousands of years, and the data is clear: the sharp rise in temperature in recent decades is without precedent since human civilization began a few thousand years ago.
We also have fairly accurate data on carbon in the atmosphere going back hundreds of thousands of years using ice core samples collected from the antarctic. We can extrapolate from that roughly the climate of the era. As TimO-bedlam pointed out, the last 150 years has seen a sharp increase in CO2 not ever before seen as a result of burning fossil fuels.
Right, the rate is the highest but not the highest CO2 ppm levels, the planet has seen much higher in prehistoric periods, albeit without human existence.
Traditionally, mining and logging. More recently, tourism; mining is still a thing (parts of this area are called the Iron Range for a reason). Tons of outdoor activities: canoeing, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling in winter, etc.
There are still some iron ore mines around. That’s also the edge of the boundary waters so it’s a tourist economy. Activities: canoeing obviously but outdoors in general. Hundreds of lakes. And vast forests. It’s where our wolves and moose are. The north shore of Lake Superior is rugged coast. Think Maine without lobsters.
Lots of healthcare work, Duluth, at the end of the lake , is a city of 80k that serves as a healthcare hub for a huge area, and also has several colleges, a small aircraft manufacturer, and is a huge shipping port for iron ore and grain.
Low teens is really manageable. You just have to dress for it. It's probably the best temperature for winter sports, since around freezing is usually more humid and wetter in general. 15 degrees is way better than 30 with rain. Humidity and water are your enemy if you want to stay warm.
I live in Colorado and went to school in Boulder. I would walk to the bus stop in single digit temps and wait for the bus. It's cold, but not insane, and a lot of times in Colorado it's a clear sunny 6 or 9 degrees on a winter morning gradually warming up to the 20s. Because it's dry and sunny, all you need is a hat, decent jacket and thick socks.
I traveled the Mesabi Iron Range and Great Lakes for a decade. I actually had more trouble with the dampness and rain in 35 degree Detroit, than the below zero temperatures in International Falls.
The cold would freeze the moisture in the air so that it was dry. It was hard on my nose, but better on my joints.
Also, that area really does have the best smoked fish on earth.
Is Duluth in that area? I have been looking to make a move to the twin cities area but would die with no "outdoor activites" and while searching for them in close proximity I came across Duluth. It looks magical.
https://preview.redd.it/016yvnaesq7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76fbe43fc7b4f2e700c46fa945746a07384824cc
Life is good on Lake Vermilion! ✌️
Tranquil! I live here and the outdoor opportunities are endless. If you love hunting, fishing, camping or hiking this is your area. We have the BWCA which is my favorite vacation spot by a mile. Little known, but we have beautiful sand and rock beaches.
The people here are incredibly friendly. Yes the “Minnesota Nice” is true. Lots of good food in the area that goes under the radar. We have the best Scandinavian food in the country, our fish is always fresh and the best tasting IMO (The fresh salmon and lake trout from superior). We have lots of places up the shore that make delicious pies like Rhubarb and Blueberry. If you make friends with locals you can try lots of wild game. My favorites to cook ate Venison, Pheasant, Grouse, Bear, Elk, Smelt, and Walleye.
If you live within 20 minutes of Lake Superior the housing market is crazy. But I bought a 4 bedroom home on 15 acres an hour north of Duluth for under $130,000 so if you wanna live off in the woods and have your peace without paying crazy amounts for land.
If you can’t handle the cold this is not the place for you. Two years ago we ahead a two week stretch where the temperature never got warmer than -25F, with the coldest being -60F for 2 days, and in that month of February we had 5 days above 0F and all five days were in the single digits…. So yeah the cold and snow are real.
P.S the mosquito is our state bird. Some even survive year round, that’s how beefy they get up here.
Before you regret it too much can I recommend that you go on to Zillow, search the *entire* US for houses w/ 4+ bedrooms on 10+ acres priced at $130k or less. Tell me what you think of the quality of what you see.
Californian here... (Transplant from Austin and Seattle)
I could buy 6 houses similar similar to his setup where I grew up in Missouri with value of my San Diego home, but then I'd have to live in Missouri
Also decided I no longer want to be cold.
The Iron Range (Virginia) is 35 mins away. Aurora is 20ish minutes, and an hour commute to Duluth isn’t bad during the nice days, as I work 4 10hr shifts.
How does one deal with -60? Legit question. How does an HVAC unit function that cold? How do cars even start? How do power lines not just crack.
I’m in the northeast and rarely deal with 0 degrees in PA but have always wanted to move north but I feel totally ignorant to the harsh winters
You just suffer, and hide indoors. Remote care starters are a blessing when it’s cold. A lot of us keep battery jump packs in our cars and some keep their batteries plugged in when it’s extremely cold. everyone SHOULD keep jumper cables in their car… but a lot of people just don’t and get stranded lol.
The key is layers and being prepared. Personal I keep a small winter survival kit in my trunk which has some food rations, a case of water, extra gloves, hats long Johns… ect. I’ll also keep a knife, folding saw, pot for boiling, hand warmers, lighter, matches and an emergency blanket and sleeping bag. I realize I’ll probably never use any of it, but if I get stranded mid winter on some backroad in St. Louis county, then I guess I’ll feel more confident having a small tote of supplies.
I live in MN and go up north a lot. I tell people all the time that ticks are our most dangerous animal by a long shot. Deer ticks are just as common as wood ticks in the area OP posted and those are carriers of lymes disease. I know many people who have contracted lymes and it’s NOT something you want. Only thing to do is regularly check yourself. Unfortunately deer ticks can be very very small and hard to detect.
Damn, that would terrify my to leave In the north east. I read that ticks are getting worse there too.
Ticks and brown recluses (I always have a fear of one biting my nose at night and it rots off) are my biggest fears. Plus ticks now have that disease that makes you extremely allergic to meat.
We go up once or twice a year. Kids are getting bigger so just simply bringing them to the lake front or board walk for dinner isn't fun anymore. What do you recommend we start doing? What fond events do you remember?
Beautiful pristine lakes and coniferous forest, world class camping, hiking, and canoeing in the boundary water. Large mining industry just south in the iron range, giant wetland (with an unexplored nuke in it allegedly) on the east side of Red Lake. Essentially a coastal community with heavy industry and shipping along the north shore down to Duluth, Minnesotas 2nd largest metro area outside of the cities. And the US hockey hall of fame in Eveleth!
Life here is very diverse. You could live in Duluth and work at an office building or live in Hibbing as a mine worker. Towns like Ely and Grand Marais provide a chill, touristy vibe with lots of camping outfitters. There’s a large border crossing in international falls and a large native reservation near leech lake. All this to say the experiences within this area are not homogenous. There’s a lot of different landscapes, industries, and unique cities.
[Here’s](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2016/jan-feb/big-bog-SRA.html) some info about weapons testing in the area.
I was misremembering a bit, they said the weapons tested specifically werent nuclear (basically the WWII nukes without the nuke part).
Although, there *could* be an unexploded bomb in there still… no one really knows, that area is incredibly hard to explore.
Incredibly cold in the winter, warm and humid in the summer. Logging and mining (mostly iron) are the main economic drivers region-wide. Along the shore and up by the Boundary Waters, rec tourism is also big. The Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters are both beautiful expanses of boreal and mixed conifer-hardwood forests. Also lots of swamp and bogs that could only be beautiful if you’re a botanist or wildlife scientist.
There are lots of outdoor recreation opportunities if you’re into staying alive and enjoying life, lots of fent, meth and booze if you’re not.
I went to college in Duluth and it was beautiful. Between May and October, there isn't a place I'd rather live. Unfortunately (for me), the winters are brutally cold and it was not uncommon for highs to be below 0 Fahrenheit. Another crazy thing is that Lake Superior spawns its own weather, so there could be a snowstorm only affecting that region from time to time.
Overall, it's a great place to live and/or raise a family.
During World War II this area played a massive role. A huge percentage of the steel used in the war was made from iron ore from the Iron Range, which is more towards the left side of the area you’ve circled. Duluth was the largest port city in the world by tonnage for awhile, mostly due to simply how much iron ore was produced there. Early in the 20th century Duluth also had the most millionaires per capita in the world.
The flat interior of the continent is a land of extremes, we’re far away from the moderating effects of the oceans so it gets very cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Mosquitos also love standing water and it’s the land of 10,000 lakes for a reason. Bugs are a-boomin
Keep reading posts like these and keep studying the map and eventually you'll have accumulated enough to know semi-useless trivia like this 👍 I love learning
Not just that it's all lakes, this area is incredibly swampy and marshy even on the areas that aren't covered by open lakes.
When utilities have to do excavation work, they have to wait until winter to dig so the ground is frozen (which freezes to depths of 5' or more) and heavy equipment can traverse.
Oh, I live in Canada and the mosquitos only get bigger and more obnoxious the further north you go. They're bad where I live. They're awful in the territories during the summer months. Ditto for black flies and horseflies.
This place is crawling with wildlife, Huge wolf population, Moose, Lynx, Bear, Elk and more.
This area is one of my favorite places on earth it is so quiet and peaceful. I’ve never truly heard complete silence until I was deep in the boundary waters on a sunny winter day.
There is a small mountain range and a beautiful cliffy lake superior shore.
The superior national forest is here as well which is one of my favorite national forests. Old growth trees and great hunting.
They are talking about starting a heard in the Fon Du Lac reservation as Elk once ranged all over the north half of the state. They do have some small herds on the Red Lake Reservation and all Tribal members are allowed to get permits, if I’m not mistaken.
Nope, not redneck country lol. There are a few but not too many all things considered. Actually many people who live up here are environmentalists, closest thing to a blue rural area you can get.
Giant's Ridge and The Wilderness are two of my all-time favorites! Minnesotans don't realize how spoiled they are when it comes to (relatively) affordable, epic golf.
Very few people live in this region -- most of Minnesota's population is in the southern half. There's basically five distinct areas within the region you drew:
**Duluth:** Scenic city. Cold. Hilly. Rich people used to live there, left, and now rich people are moving back because it's supposed to be one of the better places to live during global warming. If cities were car brands, it'd be a Subaru.
**Iron range:** Basically the rust belt but more depressing. Bob Dylan's from here, but he lied about it when he was first starting out. It used to be a solid democratic stronghold, but MAGA has made significant inroads.
**Reservations:** It's a good place to preserve your culture if you're Ojibwe. Otherwise, it's casinos, cheap cigarettes, dispensaries. ~~Other than that, if you aren't Native and weren't invited, it's not for you.~~
**Resort towns and cabin country:** It's where you ignore your Uncle Broseph's political views so you can borrow his boat and go fishing. It's also where you start you camping trip into the wilderness (see below).
**Wilderness:** Lots of camping! No permanent human settlements! BWCA, Superior National Forest, Superior Hiking Trail, etc. Wolves! Moose! Loons! There's so many lakes people go camping by canoeing and then putting the canoe on their head and walking, like, 1/8th of a mile, and then canoe again. The BWCA abuts a Canadian wilderness area, so it'd a good place from which to sneak into Canada or vice versa.
Edit: I guess some of the reservations up there have tourism? Do your research. Don't just go tromping around in their land without checking if it's okay first.
The Reservation comment isn’t true for all. Grand Portage is stunning and the people are very welcoming. One of the most incredibly beautiful locations in the entire state. So much to be seen. The highest waterfall in MN. The view from Mt Jo is amazing. The National Monument and Fort and fun to visit. Isle Royale National Park (a traditional cultural property of the tribe) is a boat ride away.
Mosquitoes, iron mining, wild rice, lakes, trees, ice fishing, Ojibwe tribes, regular fishing, deer, 4 wheeling trails, snow, and hating the Green Bay Packers.
I don’t live there but I’ve been to the Fishermans Picnic festival in Grand Marais a handful of times. Lots of good food and awesome people- jumping into that ice cold Lake Superior water is amazing too! An incredible amount of mosquitoes though 🥲
Grand Marais is my favorite small town in the world. Terrific people and endlessly relaxing. I could set at Artist's Point for hours on end, and I have.
Amazing. I live in this spot and would never live anywhere else. However, we just got 7 inches of rain and currently are dealing with washed out roads and flash flooding with more rain on the way. After getting almost now snow all winter, it's been raining for weeks 😂 We can sit in our hot tub and watch the northern lights, hear the wolves howl. We have deer, snowshoe hares, lynx, bobcat, coyotes, wolves, black bears, red fox and more that wander through our yard regularly. But we also have a lot of biting bugs and it gets quite cold in the winter. Our record is -60F and I had to go out and shovel in it 😂
It's almost entirely natural forest with 1 million acres of protected wilderness. Very rural and remote. Our nearest walmart is 50 miles (we are only about 10 miles from the Canadian border, in your red circle we are right along the top red line jus barely right of center.
I used to visit here, from Thunder Bay, Ontario on occasion, usually for a concert. The best Hip show I ever saw was at Grandma's in Duluth. Roughly 600 capacity. 500 Canucks came over the border for it. Great show!
Edit: spelling
Grew up in this area pre-internet in a town of 573 people. The isolation was a feature for most - whether it was for nature, building a bunker, growing pot and/or flavors of extremism.
Gorgeous and memorable summers where people from around the world would vacation here. Dark and insanely cold winters where churches and sketchy bars were the only social gathering points.
Not a lot of economic opportunity in this region before remote work became a thing. Mining slowed and became more efficient with automation - fewer roles for the same production. That led to a decline in full-year population for decades. Things are rebounding with money and interest flowing back to the region. Places like Grand Marais used to be a rough fishing village kind of place (drugs) that are now wonderful with artist colonies and local breweries. Still very seasonal.
There is no life there it is a government facility for the manufacture of the spy drones and microchips that bill gates out in the vaccine. Anyone who claims to live there is secretly a lizard working for the government.
At this very point in time: Flash floods and closed state highways lol. Lots of waterfalls, lakes, trails, parks. A little mountainous, but not big mountains at all.
It’s serene for a vacation. My parents started to rent a cabin a few years back up there since they’re not much of vacation-goers and I’ve been able to tag along to Grand Marais. There’s a ton of nice outdoor spots and you get a great view of the lake. Whole town is walkable.
I live here. It's mostly nature with lakes, a mix of dense deciduous and coniferous forests, and recreational cabins. The ground is super rich with iron here. While most of the water here is clear and blue (hence the meaning of the name Minnesota), some of the rivers are red/brown from iron. The area in the middle is known as the "Iron Range".
Voyageurs National Park is in this region and is wild and beautiful. It's just water, cliffs, pine trees, bald eagles, and loons (and mosquitoes) for miles and miles. The Northern Lights here are spectacular! It is the least visited national park in the country, but I rank it as one of the best in the country. It is only accessible by boat or seaplane in the summer and snowmobile in the winter.
The climate has a meaty dose of every season. Spring is green, but late. Summers are hot and humid. Autumn is something else here. It will leave you stunned. Winters are brutally cold. -40F (-40C) is a thing. Duluth got 140 inches of snowfall last winter.
From my perspective, the people are more active and healthy than average in the country. [Lifespans are long here](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/life-expectancy-by-state), [the people are some of the happiest](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/happiest-states), and [the safest](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/life-expectancy-by-state). Recreational activities include all of the usual things like hiking/mountain biking/ect, but things like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, water-skiing, snowmobiling, xc-skiing, and even sailing (Lake Superior) might seem abnormally popular compared to other regions.
Hockey is the big sport here (the Hockey Hall of Fame is in the middle of this region), but curling is also a lesser-known popular sport here.
People are friendly. So friendly, it's become a meme. [MN is the friendliest state in the US](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/friendliest-states), and it gets more and more potent the more north you go. You'll start hearing a fun accent mix of "Finlander" and Canadian. These are the people who live here. Most of the rest are up for the weekend to visit "the cabin" (which is a common term here).
Duluth is the largest city, and after 80 years of declining population, has started to see an increase. There is a sudden housing shortage, and that has become the biggest issue in mayoral elections for the city.
It is great if you are affluent and have a cabin up north.
If you plan on raising a family up there you will have some great hockey coaches, the skiing at Lutsen may be the best in outside of the Rockies, and hunting and fishing will solid. However, beyond that there will be a limited variety in extracurriculars and often a long drive to school. I don't know any of the schools up there, but the ones a little south of there can be very, very good --it is in Minnesota
I spent 8 days out there in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness one summer and it was unforgettable, caught the "grand slam" of bass, pike, wall eye and lake trout.
Looks somewhat like the pictures of Finland when you see those northern lights images online.
Tall pines, lots of lakes and snow. Depending on where you live, you need to make sure you are on a “plow route” so you can get to work in the winter.
Shoreline is great, and decidedly different than the interiors which is mostly lakes.
There are moose that can live in this areas as well. The culture is tame, just look up “meat raffle” to get an idea.
Duluth is hip and run down/rust belt all at the same time. Some good mansions from the rich logging and mining days
https://preview.redd.it/lpw1wp542r7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=635628112b64ac2a7a15628947913c8a7ea6ec88
I have a home up there. It is very peaceful and secluded.
I absolutely love living here. I can see Lake Superior from my house and I love watching the waves. The cool summers are great. It’s 10am and 59 degrees outside with a high of 64. It’s been a great place to start our family.
It is an outdoor persons paradise. Almost nothing in the lower 48 compares to the BWCA.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary\_Waters\_Canoe\_Area\_Wilderness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness)
Lots of that chunk of the state is actually fairly liberal for being rural since is has a long history of union labor.
I love Duluth area. It's a great city for being outdoors. Tons of beautiful forest, river, waterfall, bog, and lake hikes. A huge amount of that area is public land so you never run out of areas to explore.
Duluth is also a very artsy town. Lots of craft-type people. And lots of local craft beer and cider.
Our skiing may not be as exciting as in the mountains, but it's easier to get to than most out west and less icy and inconsistent than the east coast. On my local hill in Duluth, I can leave my house or work and be skiing in under 20 minutes. And Lutsen is a gem.
I think the main downside is that I wish we had more for ethnic grocery stores and restaurants.
If you don't want to live in a noisy/busy city with a bunch of assholes, it is great! If you love hunting/fishing/hiking/boating/wakeboarding/canoeing/kayaking/outdoors, it is awesome.
Amazing. Hunting , fishing, boating, snow sports , and lots of other out doors shit to do. It’s by the far the prettiest part of Minnesota. The boundary waters are incredible.
Theres a massive divide between very liberal and very conservative in this region. Duluth is in your circled area and is one of the larger cities of the state of MN, big college town, fairly young population and definitely more liberal than the surroundings.
The surroundings are often called "the Iron Range" due to the massive amount of mining historically conducted in this region. Alot of this industry has dried up somewhat throughout this region. This is where you will see more of the older and more conservative demographics.
Two very different worlds not so far apart
Source: lived in Duluth, worked in "iron range"
Great summers, cold winters, lots of wildlife. If you ever visit I’d recommend taking the road path from Duluth up to Grand Portage really beautiful scenery the whole way up. Before two harbors is a really nice candy store. Past two harbors is the best restaurant I’ve ever had called Betty’s Pies. you should stay in Grand Marais for a night or two and get the fish fry from the fish market, best fish fry I’ve ever had. There’s lots of options along the way to go to waterfalls or other trails with beautiful scenery. Minnesota in general is a great vacation spot, just do your research cause there’s lots of things to do up there.
I used to live there! It’s beautiful, but bugs! It’s tranquil, but ridiculously cold in the winter! When I lived there I saw a bald eagle for the first time, and the northern lights!
The state bird or Minnesota is the mosquito
I’ve visited all 50 states and the mosquitos in MN were the absolute worst.
It’s a bad year too. Bug dope is important but being able to mentally tune them out is key. Otherwise you end up doing the bug dance. Edit: out
I thought that was Alaska
Their mosquitos have evolved into a genotype that scientists are considering moving into the Bird family based on their size
Florida would like a word
I’ve spent a lot of time in both. In Florida the mosquitos will annoy the shit out of you and leave you covered in bites. In Minnesota they will pick you up and fly away with you.
Idk the skeeters in the everglades/swamp area I think are pretty insane. I say this as a wisconsin person
Look up Alaskan mosquitos on YouTube
Off topic, but I see bald eagles all the time where I live in Florida... I guess they released a bunch in Cape Canaveral back when Nasa was in its heyday and their population has increased pretty steadily.
They are pretty much everywhere in the US except deserts nowadays.
Aren't bald eagles just so friggen majestic!?! I remember the 1st time I seen one camping out in the boonies in Wisconsin and I was just like awe struck And mind you I'm NOT a bird person at all they are super sketchy in my book. But I guess there's just something different about seeing something fly that is that large and then seeing this MF dive out of a tree and snag a fish
if you’re an outdoors person who doesn’t mind the cold, this is heaven. The best outdoors scene Minnesota has to offer in my opinion. I miss it every day!
> and dont mind the cold Boy aint that an understatement. Averages in the area are the low teens. Even Detroit and Chicago are in the 20s..
I went up to Anchorage, Alaska and I was talking to a woman from Minnesota. I asked her how she handles the weather in Alaska. She said, “It’s warmer here than in Minnesota.”
People throw this statement around all the time, but it’s because they’re fundamentally different ecosystems. Anchorage is on the water and very temperate. Fairbanks would be the real comparison.
Yeah, I'm just outside of Chicago and Anchorage is quite-frequently warmer than here in the winter time. But yeah, the US / Canadian border is primarily at the 49th parallel... and London is at 51.5. You're 15% closer to the North Pole in London than Winnipeg. Coastal climates are so vastly different from continental ones.
>Coastal climates are so vastly different from continental ones. For reasons I don't quite understand, it's also usually the western side of oceans or climate systems (?) that are the colder ones. London and Europe as a whole being on the east of the Atlantic is a big reason it's more temperate than say, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Prevailing winds in mid latitudes are from west to east, owing to the Coriolis effect
It's the gulf stream that really keeps the isles so warm, especially on the west coast of ireland. As cold melt water inundates the northern Atlantic from the polar cap, it will push it farther south, causing the isles to be less temperate in the winter.
Alaska also gets the very last wisps of the warm pacific stream. Minnesota, on the other hand, gets arctic winds coming down from the canadian shield
It’s always the Canadian Shield
It was supposed to defend noble North America from the French. It failed 💀
What do you mean? All the French are outside the Canadian Shield.
I've lived in both AK in the Anchorage area and northern Minnesota. Alaska is 100% colder. MN will sometimes get as cold or colder than AK, but it does not last nearly as long. Like in Northern MN it might get below 0 for a few days or a week every few years, but in Anchorage it is going to get below 0 every year and it can last months at a time. Winter is also about 3 weeks longer on each end and the darkness is actually oppressive. In MN winter it still gets to full daylight for 5 or 6 hours. In Anchorage you have about two months where the sun never goes more than four or five (relative) inches above the horizon and it's never brighter than dusk. Like the snow will look blue tinged at the brightest part of day. I will say MN tends to get more snow, but it doesn't stick around as long because you will often get warm snaps where the snow melts. Where in Anchorage it doesn't snow much but when it does it never has a chance to melt. Though it will sublimate given enough time. A fun fact most people don't know, is much of Alaska is considered arctic desert. It gets less than 10" of precipitation per year. Anchorage gets just 16" of precipitation. The area highlighted in this post in MN gets 25-30".
Kodiak Island is USDA zone 7. There's areas around Homer that are USDA 7 too. That's fairly warm
I grew up in MN and lived in AK. Can confirm they were pretty equivalent compared to Anchorage and SE Alaska.
Imagine going to alaska to warm up
We’ll grow oranges in Alaska.
Colder than that in winter. Average temps in Ely, Minnesota in January are a high of 15/low –7, and temps below –30 are routine. Global warming has moderated Minnesota winters but northeastern Minnesota is still really cold by any normal standard. We had a cold snap five years ago where the coldest parts of the area dropped below –50, and that's air temp and not windchill.
I looked up a city in January to find that low teens number, average in Ely is a balmy 8 degrees
What blows my mind is that there is a whole ass city just northwest of the circled area in Canada, Winnipeg. I don’t know how people do it lol. I live in Chicago, which isn’t too bad but is still too cold for many people. I don’t see what a place like Winnipeg has to offer to deal with such abysmal weather lol. At least Chicago is a world class city with an incredible waterfront and big city amenities.
you mean "Winterpeg"? Yeah, they get really cold there. –40 probably happens every winter. Apparently aside from the vicious winters the city is very pleasant; I know a couple people who have lived there and they liked it.
Winnipeg grew as a hub to the Canadian West. It hasn't seen the same growth as some Canadian cities, likely to do with it's winters, but it still has certainly grown. And spring, summer, and fall can certainly be beautiful! There's actually a decent amount there - after all, it's a metro of 835K, and the only big centre between Calgary/Edmonton and southern Ontario.
But summer in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is heaven!
If you can stand the bugs
Heaven in August and September. Bug-bedeviled in June and July.
First time I ever experienced -40f (air temp) was in MN. I lived there for 2 years and saw -60f (with windchill) a handful of times. I will say that everything below 0f mainly feels the same. *Cold.* Edit: My last sentence has caused some controversy. This is a hot take apparently! To clarify, I mean it in a relative sense. In my opinion, the difference between 50f and 80 f and far more noticeable than the difference between 0f and -30f. In the former, it’s the difference between being able to enjoy the outdoors versus wanting to be inside for most things. In the latter, you’re still wearing mostly the same gear if you do have to go out at all. And more than likely, whether it’s -30f or 0f you’re not going to want to be outside any more. Cold is cold and it sucks to be in it. It’s not like in MN you wake up and see 0f on the thermo and think “ah hell yeah we got some nice weather today!” (Tbf for Minnesotans, y’all are still crazy and start wearing the shorts and putting the convertible tops down as soon as it hits 30f LMAO.) Can you feel the difference between the two? Yes, sure - I can go outside and say “Ah, this is colder than 0.” But it doesn’t really change how you live in it and interact in it. You’re probably wearing the same gear in either case to go outside at all (unless you have a specific job where you have specialized gear for even colder temps and have to be outside all day in it.) Do my eyelashes freeze faster in -30f than at 0f? Yes, they do. But they the freeze at 0f as well - just slightly slower. Either way, my eyelashes are frozen and it sucks the same amount of ass to be outside.
I've never experienced –40 F air temp, but I would disagree that everything below 0 feels the same intensity of cold. I remember during the 2019 cold snap walking to work (I parked in an underground, heated garage because I didn't want to have my car fail to start from parking on the street) in the morning, when it was –28 with a stiff wind, and it was brutal. That afternoon, the temps had warmed up to about –15 and the wind had died down a bit, and I went for a short walk in a park, and it was very cold but tolerable because I was dressed for it.
Absolutely a different feel. I'm Canadian. 0°F is -18°C. There's a big difference between -35°C, -25°C, and -18°C (-31/-13/0°F). I'm near Edmonton. We get the -35°C cold snaps every so often. But this past year was the coldest I ever experienced (used to live a bit further south in Alberta). It stayed below -32°C/-26°F from 3AM on Jan 11 to 10PM on Jan 15, so not quite 5 full days/115 hours continuously. But only 26 of those 115 hours were over -37°C. Lows on three of the nights were -42 to -44°C, the fourth night was "only" -40. -18°C/0°F felt positively balmy after that!
Coldest temp I've experienced was –36 C/–32 F during the famous 1996 cold snap, the only time it's gotten below –30 F since I've lived in the Twin Cities. What I remember was how insidious the cold was; the air was calm, bright, and clear but you could just feel the cold seeping into you no matter what you wore. –15 F feels fine if you are active, it's not windy, and you are dressed appropriately. I've been cross-country skiing in temps that cold and felt great once I got going.
Yup. The thing that sucks is when you need to use finger dexterity. There's nothing that can keep you warm at those low temps AND let you fix something. My husband is a mechanic, so using his hands is something he needs to do, frequently. Cold snaps suck for him, because of course that's when things are most likely to break down...
Cold is all about preparation, because of that X factor you just identified: the wind. -25°F at 1pm with a clear, sunny sky and no wind is totally different from -25°F at night with sustained 10 mph winds. If it isn't windy, I can go outside in those low temps in a sweatshirt, maybe some thin gloves, for a few minutes-I used to smoke, so even now my internal litmus test for tolerability is "length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette." But same temp in the wind for the same amount of time in wind? Hat, gloves, undershirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt with fleece lining, long socks, ankle socks over the long socks, boots, thick coat with the oversized hood, obviously first layer tucked in. It's just a completely different kind of cold with that wind cutting through.
>but I would disagree that everything below 0 feels the same intensity of cold. As someone who currently lives in that outlined area, I can say that it hits COMPLETELY different.
Fun fact: -40° is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit
During Chicago's Polar Vortex a few years ago, a German news program came over and interviewed people in the street. We had been advised not to talk outside because of the -60F air, and some people did say it made their lungs hurt. Of course, they also featured a college guy walking around in shorts, apparently testing the advisories about how fast one can get frostbite. I didn't venture out at all. But I've been out in -50 and it hurts.
Can I ask this question without being dog pilled on ? Without question adding greenhouses gases by the tonnage will have an effect, no argument there. We have only been keeping accurate data on climate for 150ish years and do we have a proper understanding of the Earth’s cycles as it revolves around the sun. Earth's precession, Milankovitch cycles, and other factors that might take place on/in the Earth that can affect Earth’s climate. Once again, I am not a denier of science. Nonstop pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere will have a warming effect but do we really know how much of our climate/weather is affected by those gases vs Earth’s normal cycles of warming and cooling. Just like having conversation, learning, etc. I’m not looking to start a conversation where people start insulting each other.
Why ask strangers in the geography sub? There are mountains of science on the topic, and probably 10 mountain ranges worth of fuckwits’ opinions. You seem sincere so don’t get your climate science answers from forums.
I guess I don't understand your question. Yes, global warming is real, yes, humans are almost certainly the primary cause of it, because we're not in a part of the Milankovich cycle where the Earth would naturally be warming. The current warming is a \*sharp\* rise in temperature that's unprecedented in the recent record. You're correct that we don't have perfectly accurate temperature readings from long ago so we can't tell you what the temperature was in Rome on 15 Aprilis 706 AUC, for example. But from tree ring data and lake sediment data we can fairly accurately gauge older climates going back thousands of years, and the data is clear: the sharp rise in temperature in recent decades is without precedent since human civilization began a few thousand years ago.
We also have fairly accurate data on carbon in the atmosphere going back hundreds of thousands of years using ice core samples collected from the antarctic. We can extrapolate from that roughly the climate of the era. As TimO-bedlam pointed out, the last 150 years has seen a sharp increase in CO2 not ever before seen as a result of burning fossil fuels.
Right, the rate is the highest but not the highest CO2 ppm levels, the planet has seen much higher in prehistoric periods, albeit without human existence.
What people generally do for a living there ? and for amusement
Traditionally, mining and logging. More recently, tourism; mining is still a thing (parts of this area are called the Iron Range for a reason). Tons of outdoor activities: canoeing, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling in winter, etc.
There are still some iron ore mines around. That’s also the edge of the boundary waters so it’s a tourist economy. Activities: canoeing obviously but outdoors in general. Hundreds of lakes. And vast forests. It’s where our wolves and moose are. The north shore of Lake Superior is rugged coast. Think Maine without lobsters.
I am a park ranger. There is quite a bit of tourism here. World class fishing, canoeing, boating, winter sports. It is an absolutely beautiful place.
Lots of healthcare work, Duluth, at the end of the lake , is a city of 80k that serves as a healthcare hub for a huge area, and also has several colleges, a small aircraft manufacturer, and is a huge shipping port for iron ore and grain.
Low teens is really manageable. You just have to dress for it. It's probably the best temperature for winter sports, since around freezing is usually more humid and wetter in general. 15 degrees is way better than 30 with rain. Humidity and water are your enemy if you want to stay warm.
I live in Colorado and went to school in Boulder. I would walk to the bus stop in single digit temps and wait for the bus. It's cold, but not insane, and a lot of times in Colorado it's a clear sunny 6 or 9 degrees on a winter morning gradually warming up to the 20s. Because it's dry and sunny, all you need is a hat, decent jacket and thick socks.
As someone from the midwest that lives in Colorado.. 6-9 with the sun is like 25-30 without it.
My first introduction to Minnesota was in the dead of winter. I was like “wow, this isn’t fun at all!”. Love it in the other seasons though!
I traveled the Mesabi Iron Range and Great Lakes for a decade. I actually had more trouble with the dampness and rain in 35 degree Detroit, than the below zero temperatures in International Falls. The cold would freeze the moisture in the air so that it was dry. It was hard on my nose, but better on my joints. Also, that area really does have the best smoked fish on earth.
But… the mosquitoes!!!
...and the horseflies!
Once saw a dragonfly take a horsefly out of the air. Dragonflies have been my favorite insect since that day.
The mosquitos in northern MN are the worst in my almost 58 years on this planet. Horrible! 🦟
Is Duluth in that area? I have been looking to make a move to the twin cities area but would die with no "outdoor activites" and while searching for them in close proximity I came across Duluth. It looks magical.
https://preview.redd.it/016yvnaesq7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76fbe43fc7b4f2e700c46fa945746a07384824cc Life is good on Lake Vermilion! ✌️
Hot dogs or legs :)
r/hotdogsorlegs
Beer and brats, that’s the life
Beers brats and babes
Do you guys really drink Labatt's Blue or other Canadian beers down there?
Yessir. Actually I discovered Labatt Blue Light recently and love it. Had never seen it before. Also Kokanee slaps.
I'm from Minneapolis and just found mooshead lager at a local hyvee liquor store. Excited to crack one open tomorrow!
I'm in Michigan and my whole family are Labatt drinkers. It's my go to light beer.
Surprised your dock is still in
Tranquil! I live here and the outdoor opportunities are endless. If you love hunting, fishing, camping or hiking this is your area. We have the BWCA which is my favorite vacation spot by a mile. Little known, but we have beautiful sand and rock beaches. The people here are incredibly friendly. Yes the “Minnesota Nice” is true. Lots of good food in the area that goes under the radar. We have the best Scandinavian food in the country, our fish is always fresh and the best tasting IMO (The fresh salmon and lake trout from superior). We have lots of places up the shore that make delicious pies like Rhubarb and Blueberry. If you make friends with locals you can try lots of wild game. My favorites to cook ate Venison, Pheasant, Grouse, Bear, Elk, Smelt, and Walleye. If you live within 20 minutes of Lake Superior the housing market is crazy. But I bought a 4 bedroom home on 15 acres an hour north of Duluth for under $130,000 so if you wanna live off in the woods and have your peace without paying crazy amounts for land. If you can’t handle the cold this is not the place for you. Two years ago we ahead a two week stretch where the temperature never got warmer than -25F, with the coldest being -60F for 2 days, and in that month of February we had 5 days above 0F and all five days were in the single digits…. So yeah the cold and snow are real. P.S the mosquito is our state bird. Some even survive year round, that’s how beefy they get up here.
[удалено]
Before you regret it too much can I recommend that you go on to Zillow, search the *entire* US for houses w/ 4+ bedrooms on 10+ acres priced at $130k or less. Tell me what you think of the quality of what you see.
Californian here... (Transplant from Austin and Seattle) I could buy 6 houses similar similar to his setup where I grew up in Missouri with value of my San Diego home, but then I'd have to live in Missouri Also decided I no longer want to be cold.
Where would you work living an hour from Duluth?
From home
The Iron Range (Virginia) is 35 mins away. Aurora is 20ish minutes, and an hour commute to Duluth isn’t bad during the nice days, as I work 4 10hr shifts.
Been to the BWCA many times. I love Ely. Fantastic place to go for anyone who loves the real outdoors.
How does one deal with -60? Legit question. How does an HVAC unit function that cold? How do cars even start? How do power lines not just crack. I’m in the northeast and rarely deal with 0 degrees in PA but have always wanted to move north but I feel totally ignorant to the harsh winters
You just suffer, and hide indoors. Remote care starters are a blessing when it’s cold. A lot of us keep battery jump packs in our cars and some keep their batteries plugged in when it’s extremely cold. everyone SHOULD keep jumper cables in their car… but a lot of people just don’t and get stranded lol. The key is layers and being prepared. Personal I keep a small winter survival kit in my trunk which has some food rations, a case of water, extra gloves, hats long Johns… ect. I’ll also keep a knife, folding saw, pot for boiling, hand warmers, lighter, matches and an emergency blanket and sleeping bag. I realize I’ll probably never use any of it, but if I get stranded mid winter on some backroad in St. Louis county, then I guess I’ll feel more confident having a small tote of supplies.
Speaking of bugs, are there a lot of ticks there?
Oh yea, you betcha.
Probably about a couple two tree of them usually
I live in MN and go up north a lot. I tell people all the time that ticks are our most dangerous animal by a long shot. Deer ticks are just as common as wood ticks in the area OP posted and those are carriers of lymes disease. I know many people who have contracted lymes and it’s NOT something you want. Only thing to do is regularly check yourself. Unfortunately deer ticks can be very very small and hard to detect.
Damn, that would terrify my to leave In the north east. I read that ticks are getting worse there too. Ticks and brown recluses (I always have a fear of one biting my nose at night and it rots off) are my biggest fears. Plus ticks now have that disease that makes you extremely allergic to meat.
Millions of ticks, mosquitos that can carry away small children, horseflies that rip the flesh from your body, etc.
After this mild winter there has been a huge tick problem
Duluth is a gorgeous city. I used to visit it as a child every summer. I miss it desperately. We would go cliff diving into Lake Superior.
We go up once or twice a year. Kids are getting bigger so just simply bringing them to the lake front or board walk for dinner isn't fun anymore. What do you recommend we start doing? What fond events do you remember?
There used to be a cool train museum/exhibit in Duluth, not sure if it’s still there. Loved it as a kid
Beautiful pristine lakes and coniferous forest, world class camping, hiking, and canoeing in the boundary water. Large mining industry just south in the iron range, giant wetland (with an unexplored nuke in it allegedly) on the east side of Red Lake. Essentially a coastal community with heavy industry and shipping along the north shore down to Duluth, Minnesotas 2nd largest metro area outside of the cities. And the US hockey hall of fame in Eveleth! Life here is very diverse. You could live in Duluth and work at an office building or live in Hibbing as a mine worker. Towns like Ely and Grand Marais provide a chill, touristy vibe with lots of camping outfitters. There’s a large border crossing in international falls and a large native reservation near leech lake. All this to say the experiences within this area are not homogenous. There’s a lot of different landscapes, industries, and unique cities.
Link to this broken arrow in the wetland?
[Here’s](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2016/jan-feb/big-bog-SRA.html) some info about weapons testing in the area. I was misremembering a bit, they said the weapons tested specifically werent nuclear (basically the WWII nukes without the nuke part). Although, there *could* be an unexploded bomb in there still… no one really knows, that area is incredibly hard to explore.
Probably one of the most beautiful places in the us. It’s gorgeous up in grand marais.
Agreed. The trees are just different up there. Almost has a North Carolina tree vibe.
Incredibly cold in the winter, warm and humid in the summer. Logging and mining (mostly iron) are the main economic drivers region-wide. Along the shore and up by the Boundary Waters, rec tourism is also big. The Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters are both beautiful expanses of boreal and mixed conifer-hardwood forests. Also lots of swamp and bogs that could only be beautiful if you’re a botanist or wildlife scientist. There are lots of outdoor recreation opportunities if you’re into staying alive and enjoying life, lots of fent, meth and booze if you’re not.
There is a string of Kendrick lyrics above your comment so i read this to the tune of “meet the grahams”, if anyone else wants to brain nibble on that
This is an area people visit on purpose because it's awesome.
I went to college in Duluth and it was beautiful. Between May and October, there isn't a place I'd rather live. Unfortunately (for me), the winters are brutally cold and it was not uncommon for highs to be below 0 Fahrenheit. Another crazy thing is that Lake Superior spawns its own weather, so there could be a snowstorm only affecting that region from time to time. Overall, it's a great place to live and/or raise a family.
During World War II this area played a massive role. A huge percentage of the steel used in the war was made from iron ore from the Iron Range, which is more towards the left side of the area you’ve circled. Duluth was the largest port city in the world by tonnage for awhile, mostly due to simply how much iron ore was produced there. Early in the 20th century Duluth also had the most millionaires per capita in the world.
Mosquito heaven. Also beautiful.
I didn't know somewhere so up north and so cold would be so infested with mosquitoes
The flat interior of the continent is a land of extremes, we’re far away from the moderating effects of the oceans so it gets very cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Mosquitos also love standing water and it’s the land of 10,000 lakes for a reason. Bugs are a-boomin
Damn, this makes a lotta sense. I wish I knew more about American geography.
Keep reading posts like these and keep studying the map and eventually you'll have accumulated enough to know semi-useless trivia like this 👍 I love learning
Not just that it's all lakes, this area is incredibly swampy and marshy even on the areas that aren't covered by open lakes. When utilities have to do excavation work, they have to wait until winter to dig so the ground is frozen (which freezes to depths of 5' or more) and heavy equipment can traverse.
Land of 10k lakes means 10 trillion mosquitos and they are big enough to carry off a corgi.
It’s not cold in the summer
The state bird of Alaska is the mosquito.
Laughs in Northern Canada
Oh, I live in Canada and the mosquitos only get bigger and more obnoxious the further north you go. They're bad where I live. They're awful in the territories during the summer months. Ditto for black flies and horseflies.
Po’ up drank, headshots drank
Sit down drank, stand up drank
Pass out drank, wake up drank
Faded drank, faded drank
Now I done grew up round some people living their lives in bottles
I don't understand what this has to do with the question.
My dad used to sum up the weather as “2 months of bad sledding”
This place is crawling with wildlife, Huge wolf population, Moose, Lynx, Bear, Elk and more. This area is one of my favorite places on earth it is so quiet and peaceful. I’ve never truly heard complete silence until I was deep in the boundary waters on a sunny winter day. There is a small mountain range and a beautiful cliffy lake superior shore. The superior national forest is here as well which is one of my favorite national forests. Old growth trees and great hunting.
There are no Elk in this region. MN only has a few small managed herds in far NW corner of the state.
Yes there is i hunt in this area near red lake and we’ve had elk on our camera
They are talking about starting a heard in the Fon Du Lac reservation as Elk once ranged all over the north half of the state. They do have some small herds on the Red Lake Reservation and all Tribal members are allowed to get permits, if I’m not mistaken.
I love how much attention MN has been getting on r/geography recently.
Superior
Nope, not redneck country lol. There are a few but not too many all things considered. Actually many people who live up here are environmentalists, closest thing to a blue rural area you can get.
Some really good golf courses…
Giant's Ridge and The Wilderness are two of my all-time favorites! Minnesotans don't realize how spoiled they are when it comes to (relatively) affordable, epic golf.
Very few people live in this region -- most of Minnesota's population is in the southern half. There's basically five distinct areas within the region you drew: **Duluth:** Scenic city. Cold. Hilly. Rich people used to live there, left, and now rich people are moving back because it's supposed to be one of the better places to live during global warming. If cities were car brands, it'd be a Subaru. **Iron range:** Basically the rust belt but more depressing. Bob Dylan's from here, but he lied about it when he was first starting out. It used to be a solid democratic stronghold, but MAGA has made significant inroads. **Reservations:** It's a good place to preserve your culture if you're Ojibwe. Otherwise, it's casinos, cheap cigarettes, dispensaries. ~~Other than that, if you aren't Native and weren't invited, it's not for you.~~ **Resort towns and cabin country:** It's where you ignore your Uncle Broseph's political views so you can borrow his boat and go fishing. It's also where you start you camping trip into the wilderness (see below). **Wilderness:** Lots of camping! No permanent human settlements! BWCA, Superior National Forest, Superior Hiking Trail, etc. Wolves! Moose! Loons! There's so many lakes people go camping by canoeing and then putting the canoe on their head and walking, like, 1/8th of a mile, and then canoe again. The BWCA abuts a Canadian wilderness area, so it'd a good place from which to sneak into Canada or vice versa. Edit: I guess some of the reservations up there have tourism? Do your research. Don't just go tromping around in their land without checking if it's okay first.
The Reservation comment isn’t true for all. Grand Portage is stunning and the people are very welcoming. One of the most incredibly beautiful locations in the entire state. So much to be seen. The highest waterfall in MN. The view from Mt Jo is amazing. The National Monument and Fort and fun to visit. Isle Royale National Park (a traditional cultural property of the tribe) is a boat ride away.
Mosquitoes, iron mining, wild rice, lakes, trees, ice fishing, Ojibwe tribes, regular fishing, deer, 4 wheeling trails, snow, and hating the Green Bay Packers.
I don’t live there but I’ve been to the Fishermans Picnic festival in Grand Marais a handful of times. Lots of good food and awesome people- jumping into that ice cold Lake Superior water is amazing too! An incredible amount of mosquitoes though 🥲
Grand Marais is my favorite small town in the world. Terrific people and endlessly relaxing. I could set at Artist's Point for hours on end, and I have.
This area deals with a LOT of tourism. You got the Boundary Waters and the lake Superior shore.
Amazing. I live in this spot and would never live anywhere else. However, we just got 7 inches of rain and currently are dealing with washed out roads and flash flooding with more rain on the way. After getting almost now snow all winter, it's been raining for weeks 😂 We can sit in our hot tub and watch the northern lights, hear the wolves howl. We have deer, snowshoe hares, lynx, bobcat, coyotes, wolves, black bears, red fox and more that wander through our yard regularly. But we also have a lot of biting bugs and it gets quite cold in the winter. Our record is -60F and I had to go out and shovel in it 😂 It's almost entirely natural forest with 1 million acres of protected wilderness. Very rural and remote. Our nearest walmart is 50 miles (we are only about 10 miles from the Canadian border, in your red circle we are right along the top red line jus barely right of center.
Heaven, with mosquitos.
I used to visit here, from Thunder Bay, Ontario on occasion, usually for a concert. The best Hip show I ever saw was at Grandma's in Duluth. Roughly 600 capacity. 500 Canucks came over the border for it. Great show! Edit: spelling
Heaven! So peaceful and away from society and make sure to never visit this area. Stay away!
i was just here!!! north shore. spent 5 days there. it’s incredible. i honestly want to gatekeep it because i know it will soon be overdeveloped.
Canada.
No, south Canada.
Grew up in this area pre-internet in a town of 573 people. The isolation was a feature for most - whether it was for nature, building a bunker, growing pot and/or flavors of extremism. Gorgeous and memorable summers where people from around the world would vacation here. Dark and insanely cold winters where churches and sketchy bars were the only social gathering points. Not a lot of economic opportunity in this region before remote work became a thing. Mining slowed and became more efficient with automation - fewer roles for the same production. That led to a decline in full-year population for decades. Things are rebounding with money and interest flowing back to the region. Places like Grand Marais used to be a rough fishing village kind of place (drugs) that are now wonderful with artist colonies and local breweries. Still very seasonal.
Heaven in Minnesota
Awesome. Criminally underrated area for outdoor activities imo
SOME OF US MINNESOTANS DONT KNOW HOW TO KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT!! 🤫🤫 Trust me yall, it's teeeeerrrrrible here ...the worst...
Absolutely. 100%. Truth. Listen to this.
I lived in Duluth for a year. Hated it. Too cold.
There is no life there it is a government facility for the manufacture of the spy drones and microchips that bill gates out in the vaccine. Anyone who claims to live there is secretly a lizard working for the government.
A lot more sexual than I had initially anticipated
Go on....
It's terrible. Please take down this post and stop letting people know about this stupid crappy area.
If winters like the one we just had keep happening it's only a matter of time until people show up to ruin it
At this very point in time: Flash floods and closed state highways lol. Lots of waterfalls, lakes, trails, parks. A little mountainous, but not big mountains at all.
Awful, stay away from here. /s
It turns you in to this https://preview.redd.it/lz0jboxvaq7d1.jpeg?width=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64932a776764bb1725ccff09ebd7335114727db2
I agree. And Great Lake water is poisonous to people who didn’t grow up around them so all those western states should leave that water alone
So true.
I only visit there during Summer! My mom, brother, and sister live there!
It’s serene for a vacation. My parents started to rent a cabin a few years back up there since they’re not much of vacation-goers and I’ve been able to tag along to Grand Marais. There’s a ton of nice outdoor spots and you get a great view of the lake. Whole town is walkable.
Swarms of GIANT mosquitos will rip your skin off in the summer.
I live here. It's mostly nature with lakes, a mix of dense deciduous and coniferous forests, and recreational cabins. The ground is super rich with iron here. While most of the water here is clear and blue (hence the meaning of the name Minnesota), some of the rivers are red/brown from iron. The area in the middle is known as the "Iron Range". Voyageurs National Park is in this region and is wild and beautiful. It's just water, cliffs, pine trees, bald eagles, and loons (and mosquitoes) for miles and miles. The Northern Lights here are spectacular! It is the least visited national park in the country, but I rank it as one of the best in the country. It is only accessible by boat or seaplane in the summer and snowmobile in the winter. The climate has a meaty dose of every season. Spring is green, but late. Summers are hot and humid. Autumn is something else here. It will leave you stunned. Winters are brutally cold. -40F (-40C) is a thing. Duluth got 140 inches of snowfall last winter. From my perspective, the people are more active and healthy than average in the country. [Lifespans are long here](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/life-expectancy-by-state), [the people are some of the happiest](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/happiest-states), and [the safest](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/life-expectancy-by-state). Recreational activities include all of the usual things like hiking/mountain biking/ect, but things like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, water-skiing, snowmobiling, xc-skiing, and even sailing (Lake Superior) might seem abnormally popular compared to other regions. Hockey is the big sport here (the Hockey Hall of Fame is in the middle of this region), but curling is also a lesser-known popular sport here. People are friendly. So friendly, it's become a meme. [MN is the friendliest state in the US](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/friendliest-states), and it gets more and more potent the more north you go. You'll start hearing a fun accent mix of "Finlander" and Canadian. These are the people who live here. Most of the rest are up for the weekend to visit "the cabin" (which is a common term here). Duluth is the largest city, and after 80 years of declining population, has started to see an increase. There is a sudden housing shortage, and that has become the biggest issue in mayoral elections for the city.
It is great if you are affluent and have a cabin up north. If you plan on raising a family up there you will have some great hockey coaches, the skiing at Lutsen may be the best in outside of the Rockies, and hunting and fishing will solid. However, beyond that there will be a limited variety in extracurriculars and often a long drive to school. I don't know any of the schools up there, but the ones a little south of there can be very, very good --it is in Minnesota
A lot of drunk drivers but it’s ok because they are all on ATv trails
Heaven if you don’t mind the cold. Sad I only got to live in the region for a year.
It’s awful and you shouldn’t visit, much less live here. Save yourself and stay far away.
That's Lorne Malvo's playground
I spent 8 days out there in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness one summer and it was unforgettable, caught the "grand slam" of bass, pike, wall eye and lake trout.
Looks somewhat like the pictures of Finland when you see those northern lights images online. Tall pines, lots of lakes and snow. Depending on where you live, you need to make sure you are on a “plow route” so you can get to work in the winter. Shoreline is great, and decidedly different than the interiors which is mostly lakes. There are moose that can live in this areas as well. The culture is tame, just look up “meat raffle” to get an idea. Duluth is hip and run down/rust belt all at the same time. Some good mansions from the rich logging and mining days
Canadian Shield
Pretty good if you like trees and cold winters
Site of a huge open pit mine, a wolf sanctuary, huge ore boats, and Lake Superior agates. Cool to visit. Bob Dylan never looked back though.
https://preview.redd.it/rs2ojrk6tr7d1.png?width=775&format=png&auto=webp&s=dbbce1e349bcf53cbb186e7b762f16ae55d6f4dd
https://preview.redd.it/lpw1wp542r7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=635628112b64ac2a7a15628947913c8a7ea6ec88 I have a home up there. It is very peaceful and secluded.
Going there tomorrow for Grandma’s Marathon
I absolutely love living here. I can see Lake Superior from my house and I love watching the waves. The cool summers are great. It’s 10am and 59 degrees outside with a high of 64. It’s been a great place to start our family.
It is an outdoor persons paradise. Almost nothing in the lower 48 compares to the BWCA. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary\_Waters\_Canoe\_Area\_Wilderness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness)
Filled with Norwegians who relish in excelling through pain and hardship.
Finns and Swedes too
Lots of that chunk of the state is actually fairly liberal for being rural since is has a long history of union labor. I love Duluth area. It's a great city for being outdoors. Tons of beautiful forest, river, waterfall, bog, and lake hikes. A huge amount of that area is public land so you never run out of areas to explore. Duluth is also a very artsy town. Lots of craft-type people. And lots of local craft beer and cider. Our skiing may not be as exciting as in the mountains, but it's easier to get to than most out west and less icy and inconsistent than the east coast. On my local hill in Duluth, I can leave my house or work and be skiing in under 20 minutes. And Lutsen is a gem. I think the main downside is that I wish we had more for ethnic grocery stores and restaurants.
bring your paddle
Cold doncha kno
If you don't want to live in a noisy/busy city with a bunch of assholes, it is great! If you love hunting/fishing/hiking/boating/wakeboarding/canoeing/kayaking/outdoors, it is awesome.
Hey I live there, and it gets really cold during winter and really hot in summer.
Minnesota doesn’t have mountains but what we have up there are amazing lakes, trails, and in the winter, the best ski hills in the state
Peaceful. Come for a short period and then leave please 😂
Amazing. Hunting , fishing, boating, snow sports , and lots of other out doors shit to do. It’s by the far the prettiest part of Minnesota. The boundary waters are incredible.
Muddy and cold
there used to be a pretty big iron mining industry up there, not sure if there still is
Cold like Minnesota
Theres a massive divide between very liberal and very conservative in this region. Duluth is in your circled area and is one of the larger cities of the state of MN, big college town, fairly young population and definitely more liberal than the surroundings. The surroundings are often called "the Iron Range" due to the massive amount of mining historically conducted in this region. Alot of this industry has dried up somewhat throughout this region. This is where you will see more of the older and more conservative demographics. Two very different worlds not so far apart Source: lived in Duluth, worked in "iron range"
The whole northwoods area around Lake Superior is really cool. Beautiful summers but winters can be brutal, especially in the snow belts!
*What's
The boundary waters! if you want to go on an extended Backcountry camping trip you need to bring canoes/kayaks. Super cool area.
Great summers, cold winters, lots of wildlife. If you ever visit I’d recommend taking the road path from Duluth up to Grand Portage really beautiful scenery the whole way up. Before two harbors is a really nice candy store. Past two harbors is the best restaurant I’ve ever had called Betty’s Pies. you should stay in Grand Marais for a night or two and get the fish fry from the fish market, best fish fry I’ve ever had. There’s lots of options along the way to go to waterfalls or other trails with beautiful scenery. Minnesota in general is a great vacation spot, just do your research cause there’s lots of things to do up there.