# C148 - 2011 80c Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border. It covers a vast area and is known for its forests, waterways and huge, island-dotted Rainy, Kabetogama and Namakan lakes. The Ellsworth Rock Gardens, created by artist Jack Ellsworth, are a series of abstract sculptures on a terraced outcrop. The remote Kettle Falls area has a dam and a red-roofed hotel, both from the early 20th century.
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Voyageurs National Park
Native Americans first began living in the Voyageurs National Park area around 10,000 years ago.  Later, people found the waterways as they followed animal and plant populations to where they were most plentiful. Today, there are 18 Native American tribes culturally related to Voyageurs National Park. Those that have been in the area the longest are the Algonquian-speaking groups such as the Ojibwe, Cree, and Assiniboine. The Ojibwe were the main occupants from the early 1700s on.
As European demand for beaver pelts increased, more and more fur traders, called voyageurs, came to the Rainy Lake region. These men traversed the waterways in large birch bark canoes, carrying furs and other trade goods to and from Montreal. The voyageurs first came to the area when the fur supply in eastern North America began to dwindle. They were the first Europeans to explore the Northwest Territory and build trade relationships with the local Native American tribes on a commercial scale. By 1780, the Ojibwe became the main supplier of food, furs, and canoes, with an extensive knowledge of the region and its resources, making them excellent guides as well. In turn, some voyageurs later became guides to other early North American explorers.
The life of a voyageur was full of hard work and danger. Voyageurs often had to carry two or more 90-pound bundles of fur while transporting their canoes over land. Despite their profession, many voyageurs couldnât swim, so drowning while navigating rapids or lakes in stormy weather was not uncommon.
Voyageurs National Park is in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border. It covers a vast area and is known for its forests, waterways and huge, island-dotted Rainy, Kabetogama and Namakan lakes. The Ellsworth Rock Gardens, created by artist Jack Ellsworth, are a series of abstract sculptures on a terraced outcrop. The remote Kettle Falls area has a dam and a red-roofed hotel, both from the early 20th century.
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Voyageurs National Park
Native Americans first began living in the Voyageurs National Park area around 10,000 years ago.  Later, people found the waterways as they followed animal and plant populations to where they were most plentiful. Today, there are 18 Native American tribes culturally related to Voyageurs National Park. Those that have been in the area the longest are the Algonquian-speaking groups such as the Ojibwe, Cree, and Assiniboine. The Ojibwe were the main occupants from the early 1700s on.
As European demand for beaver pelts increased, more and more fur traders, called voyageurs, came to the Rainy Lake region. These men traversed the waterways in large birch bark canoes, carrying furs and other trade goods to and from Montreal. The voyageurs first came to the area when the fur supply in eastern North America began to dwindle. They were the first Europeans to explore the Northwest Territory and build trade relationships with the local Native American tribes on a commercial scale. By 1780, the Ojibwe became the main supplier of food, furs, and canoes, with an extensive knowledge of the region and its resources, making them excellent guides as well. In turn, some voyageurs later became guides to other early North American explorers.
The life of a voyageur was full of hard work and danger. Voyageurs often had to carry two or more 90-pound bundles of fur while transporting their canoes over land. Despite their profession, many voyageurs couldnât swim, so drowning while navigating rapids or lakes in stormy weather was not uncommon.