Geography of Minneapolis

Minneapolis is the largest city in the state of Minnesota in the United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County

Physical

one frame of video showing aerial view — Minneapolis flyby courtesy NASA/Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 151.3 km² (58.4 mi²). 142.2 km² (54.9 mi²) of it is land and 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²) of it (6.01%) is water. The city center is located just south of 45 degrees north latitude. On the south side of Golden Valley Road just east of Wirth Parkway, a stone containing a weathered plaque marks a point on the 45th parallel.^[1] The Mississippi, which runs to the southeast, directed the early growth of the city. Most early streets ran parallel to the river to maximize the amount of land that could be used. Eventually, growth of Minneapolis turned to north-south and east-west streets. Many unique intersections like Seven Corners on the eastern periphery of downtown were formed to translate between the two layouts. Some streets, especially older and more traditionally important ones like Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Avenue, have both orientations at different points.

Parks and lakes

Minnehaha Falls

Minneapolis has a large park system consisting of ten square miles (26 km²) of land and water that is interlinked in many places. Theodore Wirth is often credited with the development of this system that brought a playground within the reach of most children and the canopy of trees and boulevards in much of the city. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area connects regional parks and visitors centers.

Minnehaha Falls and cultural heritage events every year. Tower Hill Park in Prospect Park is the home of a 1913 water tower, one of the highest points in Minneapolis.^[2]

The

Grand Rounds Scenic Byway circles through the city and many of the larger park areas including land along the Mississippi, lakes and scenic areas. A parkway

for cars, a bikeway for riders, and a walkway for pedestrians run parallel paths along the 50-mile route. A growing number of bikeways and walkways crisscross the city and interconnect with neighboring cities.

Twenty four small lakes are within the city limits.

Chain of Lakes". Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha are to the east. Connected by bike, running and walking paths, Minneapolis lakes are used for swimming, fishing, picnics and boating.

Minnehaha Park

Waterfalls

The area now occupied by the

Lake Calhoun.^[6]

Connecting the city lakes in several north-south arteries are gorges cut through the bedrock, but filled with sand and sediment.

When

Minnehaha Falls

remains as a picturesque and informative relic of River Warren Falls, and the limestone-over-sandstone construction is readily apparent in its small gorge.

Notes

^ Wurlington Bros. Press (n.d.). "The 45th Parallel". Archived from the original on 2006-11-25. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
^ "Minnesota Preservation Planner IX (2)" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society. Spring 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-21. and "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S. Department of the Interior — U.S. Geological Survey. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
^ City of Minneapolis (2006). "About Minneapolis". Retrieved 2007-01-19.
^ ^a ^b ^c Anfinson, Scott (1989). "ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL MINNEAPOLIS RIVERFRONT". The Institute for Minnesota Archaeology. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
^ Jennings, PhD, Carrie. "Minnesota Rivers - How they Work" (PDF). Minnesota Geological Survey, University of Minnesota. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
^ ^a ^b Hays, Karen; Dawn Cardace. "Glacial Geology:Twin Cities Highlights". University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-05-12.

References

[WBP-1] Wurlington Bros. Press (n.d.). "The 45th Parallel". Archived from the original on 2006-11-25. Retrieved 2007-01-18.

[2] "Minnesota Preservation Planner IX (2)" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society. Spring 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-21. and "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S. Department of the Interior — U.S. Geological Survey. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2007-04-11.

[City-about-3] City of Minneapolis (2006). "About Minneapolis". Retrieved 2007-01-19.

[FSTS-4] Anfinson, Scott (1989). "ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL MINNEAPOLIS RIVERFRONT". The Institute for Minnesota Archaeology. Retrieved 2007-05-08.

[Jennings-5] Jennings, PhD, Carrie. "Minnesota Rivers - How they Work" (PDF). Minnesota Geological Survey, University of Minnesota. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2007-05-12.

[SMM-6] Hays, Karen; Dawn Cardace. "Glacial Geology:Twin Cities Highlights". University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-05-12.

[1]

[2]

[6]