The state of Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. Our national park this week protects four major ones. The National Park Service says water is the foundation of this wild and remote place. Welcome to Voyageurs National Park! You must have a strong desire to see Voyageurs to make the visit. It is not an easy place to get to. Much of the park is accessible only by boat. The voyageurs for whom the park was named understood this well. Voyageur is a French word meaning “traveler.” In the 1700s, French Canadian fur traders starting coming to the area seeking beaver fur and other animal coats. The product was in great demand in Europe. The fur traders traveled to and from the area for business. They took canoes to get around. The boat trips were often long and hard. The waters and wild animals created great dangers. Voyageur life became legendary. The men were seen as brave adventurers. But they were also romantics. They became known for singing songs as they navigated the waterways. Of course the voyageurs were not the first people in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park. People first arrived there about 10,000 years ago. They were mostly nomadic, and did not settle permanently. In the last 1,000 years, Native American tribes settled in the area, including the Cree, Monsoni and Assiniboin. The Ojibwe were the residents of more modern times. They served as guides to the fur traders. They also provided canoes and other important items. Voyageurs National Park covers almost 88,500 hectares. About half of that surface is water.