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MN Physical Geography

Explore Minnesota's physical geography, from the impact of glaciers to the natural boundaries that define the state. Discover the diverse topography, relief, and glacial features that shape the landscape. Learn about the Driftless Area, Moraine and Lakes region, and Buffalo Ridge. Understand the role of glacial lakes and the Red River Valley in Minnesota's geography. Delve into the climate, natural vegetation, and soil fertility of the state.

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MN Physical Geography

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  1. MN Physical Geography

  2. Minnesota from Space

  3. Minnesota’s Natural Boundaries

  4. Northwest Angle

  5. Minnesota’s Topography

  6. Minnesota Relief(Elevation)

  7. Eagle MountainHighest Point in MN (2,301’)

  8. Minnesota’s Glaciers • 4 continental glaciers advanced and retreated across MN • The Pleistocene ice age was the most recent and covered most of MN • Along the way glaciers picked up rocks and soil and transported it to the south

  9. Minnesota’s Glaciers • The rocks and soil left behind known as “glacial drift” • The melting also left behind many shallow lakes • Soils left behind are an “unsorted” mixture of soil, rocks and pebbles

  10. Glacier’s Southern Edge

  11. Canadian Shield • Physical region of mostly bare bedrock and little topsoil • Covers much of central Canada, northeastern MN and northern Wisconsin

  12. Glacial Abrasion

  13. “Ice-Scoured” Surface Most of the Arrowhead region is “ice-scoured”

  14. Boundary Waters Canoe Area • Much bare bedrock • Soil pushed to the south by glaciers • Little soil left behind is thin and rocky

  15. Minnesota Relief(Elevation)

  16. Glacial Moraines Moraines are belts of hills that form at the edges of melting glaciers when boulders, stones and soil accumulates Moraine Glacial Lakes

  17. MN Moraine Belts • Glaciers moved across “Moraine and Lakes” region of central MN several times leaving many moraines • Region is hilly with many shallow lakes Moraine and Lakes

  18. Moraine and Lakes Region • This region is covered by “Glacial drift” (soil, rocks, sand and pebbles) deposited on the land when glaciers melted • Region is hilly with many shallow lakes • Flattest areas are “outwash plains”

  19. MN Moraines Monticello’s “Little Mountain” Powder Ridge

  20. Minnesota Relief(Elevation) Buffalo Ridge

  21. Buffalo Ridge Buffalo Ridge

  22. Minnesota Relief(Elevation) Driftless Area

  23. Glacier’s Southern Edge

  24. Driftless Area • SE MN is described as “Driftless” because it was never touched by glaciers

  25. Driftless Area • Driftless area has no glacial drift • Few lakes and many rivers and streams • Millions of years of erosion visible

  26. Red River Valley Minnesota Relief(Elevation)

  27. Minnesota’s 3 Continental Divides • A continental divide is a high point of land separating the direction rivers flow Laurentian Divide • Most of southern MN’s water drains into Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico • Much of Arrowhead drains into Lake Superior eventually reaching Atlantic • NW MN drains north to Lake Winnipeg and Hudson Bay

  28. Laurentian DivideFrom Lookout Mountain

  29. Lake Agassiz Lake Duluth MN’s Glacial Lakes Brown’s Valley Lake Minnesota

  30. Glacial Lake Agassiz • When last glacier melted the drainage path of the melt water was blocked • Lake Agassiz formed until glacier melted • Overflow created Minnesota River • Sediments settled to the bottom filling in low spots and creating an extremely flat surface

  31. Red River Valley • Red River Valley is an extremely flat area that was once covered by Lake Agassiz • Sediments fell to bottom creating thick and sticky soils known as “gumbo”

  32. Red River of the North • Why is the path of the Red River Valley so crooked? • The land is so level the river struggles to find a consistent downhill slope

  33. Red River of the North Downtown Moorhead/Fargo

  34. Moorhead FloodsSpring 2009

  35. Arrowhead Red River Valley Moraine and Lakes • MN’s Physical Regions Driftless Buffalo Ridge

  36. MN Topography

  37. Minnesota’s Climate

  38. Minneapolis Climate Humid Continental Wide ranges in temperatures

  39. MN Temperatures Hot Summers and Cold Winters

  40. MN Precipitation • Most of the moisture that falls in MN comes from Gulf of Mexico • Precipitation greatest in the SE and least in the NW Jet Stream

  41. March 29, 1881 4 Distinct Seasons

  42. MN Growing Season Consecutive Days Averaging 43oF or More Only southern MN has a long enough growing season for corn

  43. Minnesota’s Natural Vegetation

  44. MN Natural Vegetation

  45. Coniferous Forests

  46. Deciduous Forests

  47. Prairie

  48. MN Natural Vegetation • Natural vegetation is an indicator of a region’s precipitation, temperatures and soil • NE MN mostly coniferous forest • Central MN mostly deciduous • S & W MN mostly prairie

  49. Percent of MN in Commercial Forests 70% of MN’s commercial forest industry located in NE MN

  50. Natural Soil Fertility

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