Browse Map

Explore away

Explore Map Collection

Check out our basemaps

Print a Map Plus

Generate a high-quality PDF

Field Guide

Discover local flora, fauna, geology, and more

Local Flora & Fauna

Learn the ecology of your area

Local Geology

Learn the geologic formation at your feet

Get Started or Sign In

Welcome

Continue with Apple

Already have an account? Sign In

MAP

Topo

Measure

Topo

Ecoregions

Public Lands

...

BASEMAPS

Default Weather

Temperature

Smoke

...

WEATHER

Glacial Lake Agassiz Basin

Ecoregion in ND, SD, MN

Print Map

Generate High-Quality PDF

This ecoregion is split between Minnesota and North Dakota by the Red River of the North. The topography is flat with a very slight declining gradient to the north and, in Minnesota, to the west. Because the Red River has a poorly defined floodplain and very low gradient, flooding can be a problem. The row crop agriculture that has replaced tallgrass and wet prairies varies in crop selection from year to year both because of changes in market demand and because there are relatively low margin crops due to the cooler growing season compared to, for example, ecoregions within the Western Corn Belt Plains (47). In recent years, corn and soybeans have been grown throughout the ecoregion but sugar beets are an important additional crop in several sections. In the northern part of the ecoregion, sugar beets, wheat, and beans are also grown with corn and soybeans. Soils are mostly wet prairie Aquolls with wet clayey Aquerts in the wetter areas; both types of soils are very productive, have high water tables, and have been ditched and drained. There are some localized areas of saline soils (dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/251Aa/index.html). About 30% of this ecoregion was soybeans, 20% spring wheat, 20% corn, and 10% sugarbeets in 2013.

— EPA

Taxonomy

Classified As

Ecoregion