Pine Island State Forest

Pine Island State Forest
Map showing the location of Pine Island State Forest
Map showing the location of Pine Island State Forest
Geography
LocationKoochiching, Beltrami, Itasca, and Lake of the Woods counties, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates48°11′11″N 94°11′00″W / 48.1863473°N 94.1832628°W / 48.1863473; -94.1832628[1]
Elevation1,197 feet (365 m)
Area878,040 acres (355,330 ha)
Administration
Established1933
Governing bodyMinnesota DNR
Websitewww.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00040/index.html
Ecology
WWF ClassificationWestern Great Lakes Forests
EPA ClassificationNorthern Lakes and Forests
Lesser floraOrchids

The Pine Island State Forest is a Minnesota state forest located primarily in Koochiching County, although there are portions that extend into Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, and Itasca counties. The forest borders the Koochiching State Forest to the east, the Red Lake State Forest to the west, and Big Fork State Forest and Chippewa National Forest to the south. At an area of 878,040 acres (355,330 ha), it is the largest state forest in Minnesota.

The location of Lake Agassiz in the area led to the flat topography of the forest, which is dotted with wetlands and bogs, and a sandy loam throughout. The vast expanses of old-growth northern whitecedar and pine were extensively logged in the early 20th century. But nowadays, the landscape is dominated by black spruce, tamarack, and northern whitecedar in the lowlands; aspen, pine, and balsam fir, which is predominate in upland sites.

  1. ^ "Pine Island State Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.