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  • Heart of the Continent mapAn International Treasure!

    Spanning the international border between northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario lies an natural treasure: the largest expanse of public greenspace in the heart of North America.

    This 5.5 million acre (2.2 million hectares) landscape comprises a blend of working forest, rugged scenery, pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife and outstanding biodiversity. Several separately managed natural areas are encompassed by this ecosystem at the “heart of the continent,” including Quetico Provincial Park, Superior National Forest (including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness), Voyageurs National Park, Grand Portage National MonumentĀ and numerous Minnesota state forest lands and parks and Ontario provincial parks. (See map.)

    Heart of the Continent Partnership

    The Heart of the Continent Partnership is a Canadian/American coalition of land managers and local stakeholders working together on cross-border projects that promote the economic, cultural and natural health of the lakes, forests and communities on the Ontario/Minnesota border. From out of a broad collection of separate entities, the partnership is seeking to develop a common identity and sense of belonging to the larger cross-border area.