| Lake Minnetonka, located in Hennepin County | | | | study when The Gray Freshwater Biological |
| Minnesota, expands over 14,000 acres and | | | | Institute was built on Lake Minnetonka's shores. |
| reaches a maximum depth of one hundred and | | | | The institute was later given to the University of |
| thirteen feet. Lake Minnetonka has always been a | | | | Minnesota. There is currently a Museum located |
| favorite resort destination, even until today and | | | | near Lake Minnetonka. The museum focuses on |
| hosts a large number of fishing tournaments each | | | | Lake Minnetonka, local businesses, Excelsior High |
| and every year. Species of fish that can be | | | | School and the Excelsior Amusement Park. The |
| caught in Lake Minnetonka are sunfish, northern | | | | Lake Minnetonka Museum is open from May to |
| pike, walleye, yellow perch and muskellunge. | | | | September. |
| Lake Minnetonka was formed nearly 11,000 years | | | | Even today people just can't seem to get enough |
| ago. Large blocks of ice melted to form Lake | | | | of Lake Minnetonka. The beauty of Lake |
| Minnetonka, but it only got its name in 1852, from | | | | Minnetonka is just too much to ignore. There are |
| then Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey. | | | | a number of different boat cruises available all up |
| Minnetonka comes from an American Indian | | | | and down Lake Minnetonka. Most of these boat |
| phrase that sounded like minn-ni-tanka, meaning | | | | cruises are extremely affordable. Many of them |
| "big water," in reference to the lake. The first | | | | provide tourists with catering, bar services and full |
| known groups of people who settled Lake | | | | amenities backed by a large number of well |
| Minnetonka were Cheyenne, Iowa, Ojibwa and | | | | trained professional staff. A number of these boat |
| Dakota Sioux Indians. They held the woodlands | | | | cruises are able to charter groups from ten |
| areas in high regard as a great spiritual place, as | | | | people all the way up to eighty people. Lake |
| well as their burial grounds. Joseph Brown and Will | | | | Minnetonka is also popular for sailboat racing. The |
| Snelling were the first European people to come | | | | Wayzata Yacht Club provides seminars as well |
| to Lake Minnetonka in 1822. In 1853, the | | | | plays host to a number of sailboat races each and |
| Minnetonka Hotel was built not far from the lake, | | | | every year. Overall Lake Minnetonka is a great |
| and in 1861 the Governor Ramsey, Minnetonka's | | | | place to take a boat cruise. A Lake Minnetonka |
| first steamboat, was launched. After the civil war | | | | boat cruise can be fun for the entire family, and is |
| Lake Minnetonka became an extremely popular | | | | extremely affordable. |
| tourist destination, and in 1889 The Minnetonka | | | | On your next holiday, try going on a lake cruise |
| Yacht Club was formed. | | | | up and down Lake Minnetonka, for its scenic |
| During the 1950s nearly forty one million fish were | | | | beauty beckons not only to boat and fishing |
| deposited into Lake Minnetonka with a majority of | | | | enthusiasts, but to all those who find peace |
| the fish being walleye fry. In 1976 Lake | | | | amidst the tranquil "big-water". |
| Minnetonka became a place of research and | | | | |