Minnesota - 10,000 Lakes???
Are there really 10,000 lakes in Minnesota?
The surprising answer: Yes!
Minnesota actually has 11,842 lakes, according to the Minnesota DNR.
Our license plates’ claims as “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” are actually shortchanging us!
The DNR’s criteria for what counts as a lake is any body of water over 10 acres, or 4.05 hectares.
If we adjusted the criteria to lakes larger than 2.5 acres, Minnesota would have 21,871 total lakes. And if we counted all lakes larger than 1 acre? 43,041 total lakes.
Minnesota - 10,000 Lakes???
Are there really 10,000 lakes in Minnesota?
The surprising answer: Yes!
Minnesota actually has 11,842 lakes, according to the Minnesota DNR.
Our license plates’ claims as “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” are actually shortchanging us!
The DNR’s criteria for what counts as a lake is any body of water over 10 acres, or 4.05 hectares.
If we adjusted the criteria to lakes larger than 2.5 acres, Minnesota would have 21,871 total lakes. And if we counted all lakes larger than 1 acre? 43,041 total lakes.