why is part of Minnesota in Canada? that little part way up north.?

Answer 1

I know exactly what you're asking: why was the US/Canadian border defined in a way so that part of Minnesota is totally surrounded by Canada? You made me curious, too. Wikipedia, as usual, has the 411:

"The Treaty of Paris (1783), concluded between the United States and Great Britain at the end of the American Revolutionary War, stated that the boundary between U.S. territory and the British possessions to the north would run "…through the Lake of the Woods to the most northwesternmost point thereof, and from thence on a due west course to the river Mississippi…" The parties did not suspect that the source of the Mississippi, Lake Itasca, was south of that point. Consequently the Northwest Angle is the result of 18th-century ignorance of geography. In the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, the error was corrected by having the boundary run due south from the northwest point of the lake to the 49th parallel and then westward along it. When this north-south line was surveyed, it was found to intersect other bays of the lake and therefore cut off a portion of U.S. territory, now known as the Northwest Angle."

So, the Northwest Angle is a goof. I'm afraid Americans haven't gotten any better at geography in the years after, either!

Answer 2

You mean the little part that's on the other side of the Lake of the Woods? Beats me. I know you have to drive south for 60 miles through Canada to get back to the main part of the state, and you can get in trouble with Canadian customs if you don't check in with them at the border. But why they drew the state line to include that little part of the north shore of the lake is a mystery to me!

Noticing the other answers, it's obvious that not a whole lot of people know what you're talking about! No, people it's not actually PART of Canada, but you have to go through Canada to get there unless you go across the lake.

Answer 3

Just because a little part of the state sticks up further north than the rest doesn't make it "part of Canada". Borders prevent that from being a fact. Borders don't always go in straight lines.

Answer 4

Minnesota in Canada?

It just looks like it. It is the way the boundary were established.

For example you have to go through Canada to get to Alaska and fly over Pacific ocean to reach Hawaiian Islands some 2500 miles.

Got it.

Minoo

Answer 5

Huh? It's Minnesota. It might extend up there a little, but it's still Minnesota. I guess it has to do with the border and all... a border that was probably established a really long time ago. Maybe it has to do with the contour of the land there, lots of borders follow land contours or bodies of water.

Answer 6

shhhh, dont tell canada. they r the bastard 51st state but dont tell them.