Minnesota Zoo

The Minnesota Zoo (formerly the Minnesota Zoological Garden), is a zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. It is one of two state-owned zoos in the United States, with the other being the North Carolina Zoo. When it opened on May 22, 1978, it was revolutionary in its exhibit design. The zoo is built in a suburban rural area and has more space for exhibits than a zoo in a city. It was one of the first zoos to organize its animals by their living environment and not according to their species. These animals all live in habitats designed to imitate their natural habitats.

The Minnesota Zoo is owned by the State of Minnesota. This differs from other zoos in Minnesota and most other zoos in the United States, which are run by municipalities or private companies. Although the Minnesota Zoo gets state funding, the zoo charges a fee for visitors and also sells yearly memberships to visitors, who then don't have to pay a fee at each visit.

A high school, the School of Environmental Studies, is located inside the zoo.

Exhibits and attractions
The exhibits are organized into six areas, including three walking trails ranging from one mile (1.6 kilometers) to two miles (3.2 kilometers) in length:
Medtronic Minnesota Trail, has animals native to Minnesota.
Northern Trail, has animals of the north (above the 45th parallel north).
Tropics Trail, has an indoor walking trail with animals from the tropics.
Discovery Bay, has marine animals.
Russia's Grizzly Coast, has animals from Russia's Far East and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Wells Fargo Family Farm, has farm animals.

 References 

 Other websites 



Category:Zoos in the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Minnesota
Category:1978 establishments in the United States
Category:State-owned enterprises