Minnesota is the 12th largest U.S. state, known for its cold climate, snow activities, and being home to 12,000 lakes. The state has a rich cultural heritage influenced by Native Americans and Scandinavian settlers, with unique foods and expressions. Minnesota features notable industries such as agriculture and timber, and is recognized for its sports teams and famous individuals like Prince and Bob Dylan.

2. About Minnesota12thlargest state in the U.S. (225,181 sq. km)Macau (29.5 sq. km); Guangdong (177,900 sq. km)5.3 million peopleName means “sky-tinted waters” and comes from the Lakota tribe of Native Americans

3. What MN is known forSnow and cold (North of Beijing)Record Low: −51 °CSnow normally lasts from November - AprilSnowmobilingIce fishing

4. What MN is known forLand of 10,000 lakes (12,000)Nice people (“Minnesota nice”)Bugs (Mosquitoes = state bird)

5. Minnesota Wildlifepink ladyslipperpine treesloonswalleyesMonarch butterfiles

6. Minnesota Wildlifewhite-tail deertimber wolvesbald eaglesmoosespiders

7. Famous MinnesotansPrince:SingerPurple RainBob Dylan:SingerBlowin’ in the WindThe Coen brothers:Fargo is a famous movie about life in the Midwest

8. Minnesota Industryiron-ore and taconitetimber:lumberjacks(Paul Bunyan)farming

9. Sports! Vikings (American Football) Twins (baseball) Timberwolves (basketball) Wild (hockey) Lynx: 2011 WNBA champions(women’s basketball)Tsuyoshi Nishioka

10. Foodmeat & potatoes (gravy)beefdairybars

11. Food: Wild Rice(“Mahnomen” – Ojibwe word)

12. Minnesota CultureSkandinavians: Norway, Sweden, FinlandSaunas: steam roomLutefisk: cod fermented with lyeLefse: potato crepe

13. Minnesota CultureNative Americans: Ojibwe tribebirchbark wigwams and canoesPow-wowsGamingWhite Earth Reservation:A reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe.

14. Minnesota Fashioncamouflagesnow pantslong johns snowmobilegear

15. Popular Activitieshuntingfishing/boatingcrafts: quilt makingcamping

16. Minnesota talk“You betcha” – what you say when you agree“Uff-da” – what you say when you are surprised or tired“Hotdish” The weather: “Gonna be a hot one again today!”“Pop”Minnesota talkThe dialect:sing-songylong vowels (especially ‘o’ as in the word ‘boat’)words ending with ‘ag’ have a long 'a’ (the 'a' in 'bag' is similar to the 'a' in 'bake' not 'back’)Native Americans have an accent of their own

17. Tourist Attractions

18. Minnesota State FairMusic: CountryMarching bandsCarnival rides4-HFood “on a stick”

19. What I do for fun in MN

20. Prize Questions