Mink are mammals with thick, soft fur.
People sometimes use the fur to make
coats. There are two species, or types, of
mink: the European mink and the
North American mink. They are related
to weasels.
Mink have a slim, long body; a short tail;
and short legs. The body of the North
American mink is 12 to 20 inches (30 to
50 centimeters) long. Its tail is 5 to 9
inches (13 to 23 centimeters) long.
Adults may weigh up to 3.5 pounds (1.6
kilograms). The European mink is
smaller. Its body and tail together are
about 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 centimeters)
long. Mink fur is normally brown.
Mink live near water. They swim and
dive well.Mink are active mostly at
night. They hunt fishes, birds, insects,
and small mammals. Coyotes, foxes,
wolves, and owls eat mink. When a mink
feels threatened, it gives off a bad smell.
#More to explore
Fur Trade • Mammal •Weasel
The world’s
worst mining
disaster
happened in
China in
1942. More
than 1,500
miners died.
The North American mink lives in forests in
the United States and Canada.
134 Mink BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Minnesota
The U.S. state of Minnesota is sometimes
called the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
This number is low, however: the state
actually has more than 15,000 lakes.
These lakes—along with forests, prairies,
and a variety of wildlife—make Minnesota
a place of great natural beauty.
Minnesota was named after the Minnesota
River. The river got its name from a
Dakota Sioux Indian word meaning
“sky-tinted waters.” The state capital is
Saint Paul.
Geography
Located in the north-central part of the
United States, Minnesota shares an
international border with Canada. The
state’s northern border is shaped by the
Canadian provinces of Manitoba and
Ontario. Minnesota’s other borders are
Lake Superior andWisconsin on
the east, Iowa on the south, and
South Dakota and North Dakota
on the west.
The Red River of the North flows along
the North Dakota–Minnesota border,
and the Rainy River separates the state
from Ontario. The Saint Croix and Mississippi
rivers separate Minnesota from
Wisconsin.
Minnesota has two natural regions. The
larger region covers the western and
central parts of the state. The area contains
thousands of lakes and the flat
plains of the Red River valley. East of
the valley are forests and rolling hills.
The other natural region is in northeast
Minnesota. This is a forested area of
lakes, peat bogs, and ridges. Minnesota
is known for its cold winters.
Minneapolis lies along the Mississippi River.
It is the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
Minneapolis and the nearby city of
Saint Paul form one large urban area.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Minnesota 135
People
Whites of European descent account for
about 90 percent of Minnesota’s population.
When the first European explorers
arrived in the 1600s, they encountered
tribes of Dakota and Ojibwa (or
Chippewa) Indians. In the mid-1800s,
settlers arrived from the eastern United
States. Later settlers included immigrants
from Norway, Sweden, Finland,
and other countries.
African Americans, Hispanics, and
Asians each represent about 3 percent of
the total population. The state’s Native
American population (mostly Ojibwa)
numbers about 55,000.
Economy
Cropland and pastures occupy nearly
half of Minnesota’s total land area. The
primary agricultural products are corn,
soybeans, wheat, and dairy products.
Food processing industries pack meat
and process dairy products. The manufacture
of metal products, machinery,
and high-technology equipment are also
valuable industries. The Minnesota
Mining & Manufacturing Company
(also called 3M) is well known for office
products such as adhesive tape and notepads.
History
Until the mid-1800s the Ojibwa lived in
the north and east of what is now Minnesota.
The Dakota lived in the south
and west. In the late 1600s, French
explorers entered Minnesota. After the
French and IndianWar (1754–63), Britain
gained control of the area. This land
became part of the United States in
1783. Another part of what would later
become Minnesota was acquired in the
Louisiana Purchase (1803).
Congress created the Minnesota
Territory in 1849, and in 1858 the
territory joined the Union as its 32nd
state. In 1862 the Dakota in the
Minnesota River valley began one of
the bloodiest Indian wars in U.S.
history. The Dakota were defeated and
forced to move westward. Settlers
poured into Minnesota after the
American Civil War (1861–65).
AfterWorldWar II (1939–45), new
industries based on minerals were developed.
In the late 20th century Saint
Paul, Minneapolis, and Duluth took
steps to make their city centers more
attractive to people and businesses.
These cities became experiments in successful
city planning and living.
..More to explore
Saint Paul • Sioux
Camping, fishing, and canoeing are popular
activities in Minnesota’s Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Facts About
MINNESOTA
Flag
Population
(2000 census)
4,919,479—
rank, 21st state;
(2008 estimate)
5,220,393—
rank, 21st state
Capital
Saint Paul
Area
86,939 sq mi
(225,171 sq
km)—rank, 12th
state
Statehood
May 11, 1858
Motto
L’Etoile du Nord
(The Star of the
North)
State bird
Common loon
State flower
