Minnesota's Lakes, 10,000 Ways to Play!

You can see it every time you are stuck in traffic.  Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, right?  Well, not exactly.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has catalogued every lake in Minnesota and has determined that there are 11,604 lakes of 10 acres or more.  These lakes range in size from the defined minimum of 10 acres to our largest, Lake of the Woods, covering over 950,400 acres.  Minnesota can also claim partial ownership of the biggest of all lakes, Lake Superior.

To put these lakes into perspective, consider that an acre covers 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet, which is roughly the size of a football field (excluding the end zones). The Mall of America covers about 40 acres.  How big is 950,400 acres?  It is, well, enormous, picture 24,000 Malls of America.

Minnesota's lakes line up as follows: (excluding Lake Superior)

Many of these lakes are still pristine and in their natural, undeveloped state.  More and more, however, Minnesota's lakes are becoming backyard play areas for homeowners.  In the past ten years, lakeside homeownership has taken off, as anyone living near highways 94 or 35 can attest.  Each weekend, it is estimated that more than 15,000 Twin Cities area residents line up for the trek to the cabin, traditionally known as heading "up north."  Of course, these days, the roads east, west and even south can become congested as more people search for their own lake escape.  

Where are These Lakes?      

Border to border, Minnesota has been blessed with plenty of these backyard playgrounds. In fact, every county can boast of lakeshore, although the liquid wealth is not at all evenly shared.  Dodge County has only one lake, while 27 percent of Lake of the Woods County is underwater.  

Naming A Lake.

Naming a lake in Minnesota is relatively easy to do. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

1. Find a lake in need of a name. This should be easy to do, Minnesota has 3,776 unnamed lakes.
2. Pick a name, but don't name it after someone you know unless they are deceased. The commissioner of natural resources will not approve a name that commemorates, or may be construed to commemorate, living persons.
3. Find fourteen friends (that are also registered voters) that will sign your petition suggesting the name.
4. Send the petition to the county board of commissioners asking for a public hearing.
5. If the board passes the resolution supporting the name, it will be forwarded to state commissioner of natural resources. The name proposed in the resolution must be approved by the commissioner of natural resources to become the official name of the feature in Minnesota.
6. Approved names are subsequently submitted to the United States Board on Geographic Names for federal approval and use. The process to change a name is the same . However, a name that has existed for 40 years or more may not be changed. Naming lakes, rivers, streams or other water bodies (natural geographic features) in Minnesota is guided by the statutory process found in Minnesota Statue 83A.05-83A.07

Source, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

What's In a Name?

Sometimes, nothing.  Some 3,776 of our lakes don't even have a name  (see sidebar, "How To Name a Lake").  From Aaron to Zumwalde, we have named the remaining 7,828 lakes.   Our most common lake name is Mud Lake, shared by 158 lakes.  Many of these names are descriptive while others are more fanciful. 

Some of the more interesting lake names include:

What Do We Do On These Lakes?

In a word, boat! Minnesota is second in the nation in boat ownership with 793,103 licensed boats for the year 1999.  That's one for every six people in the state.  From canoes to cruisers, paddleboats to jet boats, Minnesota has them all.  

Of course, there are other ways to enjoy the lakes.  We:

Watch the Sunrise and Sunset: 

Dale Rehkamp, who lives on the Mississippi River, loves to watch the water flow by in the morning or evening.  "Some people enjoy being on the water, others enjoy just looking at it. I am definitely in the latter group," says Rehkamp.  "One of the advantages of being on the river is that it never freezes. The constantly moving water brings with it a great sense of peace."  As every waterfront homeowner knows, the view out their back door is compelling, drawing a long gaze nearly every time one walks past the window.  Why else would someone pay more for a lot than for the house on it?

Play at 30 miles per hour: 

Waterskiing, tubing or kneeboarding, we just can't get enough of the rush.  Many water-skiers begin, and end, their day with a run on glass smooth water.  "Right after work is the best time for skiing" says Chad Knutson of Shorewood. "You can get in a couple sets (waterskiing runs) and get back to running the kids to and from their events." Knutson skis after work two to three times a week throughout the summer on Lake Virginia in Victoria.  "I get ribbed a lot by my friends since I ski so infrequently," comments Knutson.  "They are out there nearly every day from "ice out" through November.  I've skied the day before Thanksgiving and the first day that the ice is off the lake.  You just have to be willing to ski up to, and around, ice."  

Kids seem to enjoy tubing at least as much as skiing.  On any given weekend, lakes and rivers throughout the state teem with boats pulling tubers.  The traffic on some smaller lakes has grown so large that, by agreed upon custom, all boat traffic flows clockwise along the shore, making the ride safer for all involved.  When asked what Knutson would like boaters to do when on the lake, he adds "Be courteous and drive straight.  The lakes are getting busy and many boaters didn't grow up on a lake so it is new to them.  Inconsistent driving can lead to accidents."  

Play at 6 Miles Per Hour: 

Others love the view; whether it is of the lake as they walk around it, or of the homes as they cruise on it, they love to see the sights.  Every summer day thousands of us walk, run, bike or skate around Harriet, Calhoun, Lake of the Isles and Nokomis in the City of Lakes or along the riverfront in St. Paul.  The water is a draw that is often undeniable.  A Minneapolis native, Todd Johnson, summarizes it well "I enjoy running around the lakes or along the river. It is a great way to 'get away from it all' without leaving the city."   Johnson is not alone.  It is no coincidence that both Minnesota marathons, Grandma's in Duluth and The Twin Cities marathon, have stretches along the lakeshore.
 
Whenever the paths in Minneapolis are full of couples walking, you can assume that there are others boating along the shore looking at the majestic homes on Minnetonka, White Bear, Prior Lake or the St. Croix River.  In fact, there are over thirty charter cruise companies operating tours on Lake Minnetonka and the St. Croix River.  According to David Lawrance, owner of Paradise Cruises in Minnetonka, these private cruises are a mix of company events, clubs and family gatherings.  "We've had tour groups from as far away as China," says Lawrance. "Some who come to see the Mall of America end up taking a cruise while they are in Minnesota." Merritt Geyen, who with her husband, Daryl, owns Al & Alma's Charter Cruises on Lake Minnetonka agrees. "People like the scenery, being on the lake and relaxing," She says.  "They are very interested in the boats, houses and history of the lake.  We've had groups of over 400 rent all of our boats at once, and we've also had couples rent the boat alone so that the groom-to-be can pop the question.  People really seem to enjoy the scenery and, of course, the beautiful homes on the shoreline."

Smaller lakes throughout the Twin Cities and in the resort areas have their share of amazing shore views as well as families continue to purchase cabins for renovation or to be torn down to make way for something much larger.  Bruce Larson, co-owner of Shores & More, a Cross Lake real estate company has noticed a trend toward using architects and design firms for cabins being built or renovated.  "These homes are amazing.  It is no longer uncommon to see $1,000,000 homes on the Whitefish or Gull chains, " he says.

Play While at Rest:

For some, moving along the shore at 6 miles per hour is still too fast.  Most larger lakes have an area where groups anchor in clean water so the kids can jump off the boat and swim to their hearts' content.  Along the St. Croix, and on Lake Minnetonka, there are areas where hundreds of boats can be seen just feet apart, enjoying sunshine, conversation and friends.  These floating cities tend to develop "neighborhoods," a family area here, a more lively area there.  Over time, the "neighbors" get to know one another; some even develop close friendships and meet each year in the same location.

This group also spends a lot of time in the sun.  While doctors agree that prolonged exposure to the sun is damaging to the skin, many boaters seem comfortable only when they are in the sun.  Across the state, thousands still spend their days floating on rafts and lounging in the sun.  Another group that is often in the sun, as well as the rain, is the fishermen.  For those who love fishing, weather is only a secondary concern.  Minnesota, of course, boasts some of the country's best sport fishing with tournaments occurring nearly every week throughout the summer.          

Of course, most waterfront homeowners know that little in life beats sitting in their own backyard, swimming out to the swim platform or canoeing from shore.  Over time, many homeowners have created a kids' haven with every imaginable toy.  From "zip lines" out over the water, to floating trampolines, to every inflatable object one can imagine, some of the best times can be had just 50 feet from shore.  There have even been downhill ski jumps built so that family members could have a soft, wet landing.  It seems that for some, no expense is spared when it comes time for waterfront fun.  

Go where the wind takes us: 

Sailing is a passion for many.  Whether wind surfing, sailing a boat or piloting an iceboat, using the wind for power can be addictive.  Many powerboaters have joined a friend on a sailboat only to leave their keys at home forever.  "The quiet solitude of sailing is as close to heaven as exists on earth," says Mike Kramer of Shorewood, an avid sailor.  "Why would anyone want to hear a motor when on a lake? Moving along silently at 20 miles per hour is exhilarating!"  

For others, windsurfing is an even bigger thrill.  Scott Reid of Eden Prairie describes it this way, "When I was growing up, my family spent every weekend we could up at the cabin skiing, swimming and windsurfing.   Today, I still love skiing but my favorite water activity is windsurfing.  Enjoying the wind, water, sun and speed without an engine is a great adrenaline rush."

On the Lake Nearly Every Day:

Year-round, Minnesota's lakes provide a place for all to play.  Clearly, these 11,604 state treasures play an important role in creating the quality of life that we enjoy.  Whether we are playing on the lake, around the lake or in the lake, we value this aspect of our lives. 

The DNR and the University of Minnesota Sea Grant program recently conducted a survey about Minnesotan's attitudes toward lakes.  They found that 77 percent of Minnesotans used the lakes for recreation at least once during the past year. 

The top ranked activities were:

1. Boating
2. Socializing
3. Appreciating nature
4. Swimming

While lakeshore owners also enjoyed these activities, they had a somewhat different activity list.  

What do lakeshore owners do on the lakes?

Importance of Lakes to Minnesota Lakeshore Owners:

By Nancy Henke