reveal-minnesota

Minnesota is an historic state for politics, no matter if you are taking about Democratic, Republican, or independent leaders. While it’s hard to whittle the list down, here are the Top 5 Political Figures from Minnesota.

5. Jesse Ventura- Love him or loathe him, Ventura is an important figure in Minnesota politics as the former wrestler was the first Reform Party Candidate to win office when he became Governor in 1999.

4. William O. Douglas- A Supreme Court Justice from 1939-1975, Douglas holds the record for the longest tenure on the highest court in the land.

3. Warren E. Burger- Was the Chief Justice (more…)

The top five sports figures born in Minnesota

5. Herb Brooks
While he was a decent hockey player on the ice, Herb Brooks is a Minnesota sports star for what he did on the bench. Brooks led the unheralded United States hockey team to the “Miracle On Ice” in 1980 beating the heavily favored Soviet team in route to the Gold Medal. What people don’t know is that he led the 2002 US Men’s hockey team to a silver medal, their first medal since “The Miracle”.

4. Roger (more…)

In Geography class, many may remember hearing that Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. Trivia books trumpet this claim as well, but is it really possible for Minnesota to contain 10,000 lakes? How can there be any land left in a state, even in one as large as Minnesota, if it had this many lakes?

The truth is, Minnesota has more than 10,000 lakes. Today, there are 11,842 lakes littered about Minnesota. In addition to the great number of lakes, Minnesota also has 6,564 rivers coursing through (more…)

The state of Minnesota has many activities for you even when the weather is less than ideal. Culture is readily available and you’ll have a pick of museums and art galleries to choose from. You can feel confident that you’ll be warm in their well heated buildings. If you’re someone who loves the great outdoors, then Minnesota is the perfect destination for you with more than 10,000 lakes around the state within forest areas. You can get out on your own away from the bustle of the city. The state offers winter sports enthusiasts the opportunity to ice fish, snowmobile and ski cross country or downhill. You’ll always have access to the ski lodge’s toasty fire to warm your toes or the heat foot setting in your vehicle. If you are the sort of person who enjoys activities among a crowd, then check festival and other activity information at, http://www.festivals-and-shows.com/things-to-do-in.html, this will offer a large selection of things to do in the state. Once you’ve spent time exploring Minnesota you may find yourself wanting to relocate and have access to winter 6 months during the year. You can find added benefits of living in Minnesota at http://www.positivelyminnesota.com. Just make sure you pack your winter parka.

1. The first intercollegiate basketball game was played in Minnesota on February 9, 1895.
2. Reports show that Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people.
3. The state has 17 species of snakes of which two are poisonous; but these two species are only found in the southeastern region of the state.
4. The territory’s first newspaper, the Minnesota Pioneer, was published by James Madison Goodhue in St. Paul in 1849.
5. The country’s first indoor shopping mall in the world was the Southdale mall in Edina which opened its doors in October, 1956.
6. Linda Christensen has sculpted 90-pound blocks of butter into busts of dairy princess contestants at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul since 1972.
7. What is considered as the Curling Capital of the United States is located in Bemidji where the men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic curling teams are based.
8. The state recorded its coldest day on February 2, 1996 when temperature dipped to minus-60 degrees near the town of Tower.
9. Mound is home to Tonka Trucks which were named after nearby neighboring town Lake Minnetonka where the toys have been made since 1946.
10. Madison holds the title of being the (more…)

If you’re planning a trip to Minnesota this winter you better make sure you pack your foul-weather gear since the season is typically characterized by below freezing temperatures and snow is the primary form of the state’s precipitation during the winter months. With that said, you still need to be prepared for freezing rain, ice, and sleet since they, too, rear their heads. The annual snowfall has ranged from as little as ten inches to as much as 170 inches (yes, you read that right: one-hundred-and-seventy inches) with temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees (and yes, you read that correct, as well). Weather systems can impact the state from any direction north, west, or south but the majority of the winter weather is predicated on what is happening from the north based on a robust jet stream bringing high and low pressure systems which can impact temperature patterns in relatively short amounts of time. And there are two weather conditions you should be aware of: Alberta clippers and Panhandle hooks. Alberta Clippers are fast-moving areas of low pressure that move through the state during the winter months and frequently result in severe blowing and drifting snow, and sometimes even blizzard conditions. Panhandle hooks are opposite to Alberta clippers in that they form in the southwestern United Stated and move northeast in direction pulling moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This pattern creates a wintery mix of precipitation, rain, or sometimes even thunderstorms will then often occur to the south of it Panhandle Hooks are responsible for some of the most famous blizzards that have occurred in the Midwest, including the Great Storm of 1975. But don’t worry, spring always comes ,and it will come again in 2011; but with that will come its own set of problems like tornadoes (so maybe you should just enjoy the snow while you can!).