By: Zach Ahearn The largest thing that differentiates Minnesota is its abundance of lakes. Located in the Upper Midwest, Minnesota is home to 11,482 lakes. These aren’t small ponds either, to be classified as a lake, the body of water must be at least 0.4 square kilometers of water. The vast amount of lakes lead to a haven of outdoor recreational activities. From relaxing fishing trips to thrilling water sports, Minnesota’s lakes cater to a wide range of interests. First off, how does Minnesota have so many lakes? Glaciers formed during the last ice age and moved over Minnesota thousands of years ago. As they erode, they scraped up a lot of rock and created depressions in the ground. These glaciers would eventually melt, filling up the depressions with water. It led to a wide range of opportunities for recreation, as every lake offers its own unique appeal. Millie Lacs by far offers the best fishing out of any lake in Minnesota. It not only has a wide range of fish, but a large abundance of them as well. The picturesque shores of Minnetonka, canoeing north at the Boundary Waters, and of course Lake Superior on the East border of Minnesota; the largest lake in the world by a large margin at 82,103 sq km. For reference, the second largest lake in the world is Lake Victoria in Africa at 59, 947 sq km. One of the best things you can do in Minnesota is to go cruising on a lake. The lakes are as diverse as they are numerous, ranging from some of the largest bodies of freshwater in the world to small secluded lakes deep in the forests. People have come up with all types of ways to have fun on these lakes. Even in the middle of summer on a weekend, it is quite easy to find a lake that isn’t littered with boats. A lake with a good amount of space with a low amount of boats is the perfect place to go tubing. Tubing is the most exhilarating way to experience Minnesota’s lakes. It is a popular water sport that consists of getting pulled behind a speeding boat that has one goal of flinging you off. Tubing involves getting pulled on an inflatable tube, typically behind a motorized watercraft, such as a speedboat or a personal watercraft (PWC). As the boat accelerates and picks up speed, the tube skips across the water’s surface, sending riders on a wild roller coaster that often ends in a rider losing their grip and getting launched into the water. It may sound easy to hold on to a tube as you get pulled behind the boat, but that is far from the truth. Speedboats can get up to speeds of 50-60 km while pulling you on a tube and as soon as they hit a sharp turn it is not uncommon to get up to speeds of 100+ km. In addition to the crazy speeds, the boat naturally creates waves from going so fast which creates bumps that the tube must travel over. The bumps knock people against the tube and sometimes gets people airborne. If you’re wondering if tubing is safe after hearing about all of this not to worry, there is a reason it is an activity people of all activities experience. It is required that everyone wear life vests and even when people fall off the tube, they are too close to the water to get hurt on any surface tension. Some people just want to relax when going to a lake which is completely understandable. If you don’t want to wear yourself out on tubing, there are plenty of other activities you can enjoy while on a lake. Floating swim platforms offer a stable raised platform to sunbathe on the water. If you want to get into the water, but also have something to sit on, aqua pads are a perfect solution. Aqua pads are a strip of flexible foam that rests on the water’s surface; however, if you step on the pad it will give way and sink slightly into the water. It only sinks far enough to submerge you slightly into the water, lying on the pad gives a great combination of sunbathing while cooling off at the same time. Of course, you could go more mobile with a kayak and paddleboard. Exploring the lakes are a given on these, but a fun activity to use them for is visiting the islands that populate many of the lakes. A great deal of people kayak out to these islands and camp the night there. Lastly, who could forget fishing? Minnesota has a huge fishing culture, given that it has many lakes and a variety of fish. Renowned for its abundance of freshwater species, including walleye, northern pike, trout, salmon, and bullheads, Minnesota attracts fishers year-round. From drilling holes and ice fishing in the winter to fly fishing knee-deep in water, there’s always a place and time to fish in Minnesota. With a rich fishing culture and an array of fishing tournaments and events, Minnesota is a prime hub for anything fishing.
Taking everything into account, Minnesota’s abundance of lakes is the heart of its outdoor activities. Whether it’s adrenaline pumping tubing behind a speed boat, the tranquility of sunbathing on the lake, or exploring on a watercraft, Minnesota’s lakes cater to a range of preferences. With its deeply ingrained fishing culture and array of activities, you really can’t go wrong visiting one of the countless lakeshores in the State of Minnesota. a
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May 2024
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