 lake bemidji is a small glacially-formed lake, approximately 11&nbsp;miÂ² (28&nbsp;kmÂ²) in area, in northern minnesota in the united states. located less than 50&nbsp;mi (80&nbsp;km) downstream from the source of the mississippi river, it both receives and is drained by the mississippi. ==geography== the lake is located in southern beltrami county, near the city of bemidji, which sits on its southwestern shore. due to the shape of lakes bemidji and irving, according to folk legends, lakes bemidji and irving was formed in paul bunyan's footprint. the ojibwe described the lakes bemidji and irving collectively as a single lake being a bimijigamaa (lake that traverses another body of water), thus the ojibwe name the lake as bemijigamaag-zaaga'igan (traversing lake), since the lake is considered to traverse the mississippi river.gilfillan, joseph a. "minnesota geographical names derived from the chippewa language" in the geological and natural history survey of minnesota: the fifteenth annual report for the year 1886 (st. paul: pioneer press company, 1887) on occasion in ojibwe, the city of bemidji is called wabigamaang (at the lake channel/narrows), since part of the city is situated on the lakes bemidji-irving narrows, located on the south end of lake bemidji. the lake is a popular recreational and resort destination. lake bemidji state park is along its northern shore. center|lake bemidji, near the headwaters of the mississippi river ==see also== *lake itasca *cass lake *schoolcraft river *list of minnesota lakes *paul bunyan ==references==  ==external links== *
American_folklore Lakes_of_Minnesota Lakes_of_the_Mississippi_River Landforms_of_Beltrami_County,_Minnesota Minnesota_folklore