The state's terrain ranges from rich prairie farmland in the south to rugged forests in the north. French missionaries came next, followed by trappers and British traders. Although Scandinavians are typically thought of as Minnesota's pioneers, Germans were more numerous among the state's settlers. Minnesota today is home to a population of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The weather in Minnesota is continental.
Summer shines - sunny, warm, and dry.
Autumn flings color over the land and brings a frosty tang to the air. Winter holds sway in dry, snowy cold, displaying a sparkling, hushed beauty all its own. Spring makes puddles underfoot but quickly distracts the eye with a tender riot of green. Minnesotans notice and savor the seasons. The Twin Cities Minneapolis , the largest city in Minnesota, and St. Paul , its capital, constitute the Twin Cities, the state's major metropolitan area.