Editing Big Stone County, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==
Big Stone County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its southwest boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of [[South Dakota]]. The [[Little Minnesota River]] flows along the county's southwestern boundary. Since 1937, a dam ([[Big Stone Lake|Big Stone Lake Dam]]) has impounded the river's waters, creating Big Stone Lake. Water flowing out from this lake flows along the south boundary line of the county, and is known as the [[Minnesota River]] from that point. Fish Creek flows southwesterly through the northwestern part of the county, discharging into Big Stone Lake at the county's southwestern boundary.

The terrain of Big Stone County is low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture.<ref name=BSCM>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Big+Stone+County,+MN/@45.3815418,-96.7497097,104789m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cb817f76786145:0x63f4bdf47f96f012!8m2!3d45.4932045!4d-96.4724 ''Big Stone County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)]</ref> The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although its southwestern portion slopes to the river valley. Its highest point is on its north line near the northwestern corner, {{convert|2.9|mi|km}} east of [[Lagoona Beach, Minnesota|Lagoona Beach]], at {{convert|1,201|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Big Stone County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019) |access-date=March 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22088 Big Stone County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 5, 2019)]</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|528|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|499|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (5.5%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> [[File:Big Stone Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Big Stone County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.{{Self-published source|date=March 2024}}</ref>]]

===Lakes===
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* Artichoke Lake - south edge in [[Akron Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Akron Township]], vast majority in [[Artichoke Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Artichoke Township]]
* Barry Lake - [[Toqua Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Toqua Township]]
* Bentsen Lake - east half in [[Otrey Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Otrey Township]], west half in [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* [[Big Stone Lake]] - [[Ortonville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Ortonville Township]], [[Browns Valley Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Browns Valley Township]], [[Foster Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Foster Township]], [[Prior Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Prior Township]], [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Clear Lake - [[Toqua Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Toqua Township]]
* Cup Lake - [[Almond Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Almond Township]]
* Deep Lake - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* East Toqua Lake - [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]]
* Eli Lake - south three-quarters in [[Almond Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Almond Township]], west quarter in [[Clinton, Minnesota|Clinton]]
* Fogarty Lake - [[Toqua Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Toqua Township]]
* Horseshoe Lake - [[Odessa Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Odessa Township]]
* Lannon Lake - [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]]
* Lindgren Lake - [[Ortonville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Ortonville Township]]
* Lake Leo - [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]]
* Lone Tree Lake - east three-quarters in [[Malta Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Malta Township]], west quarter in [[Almond Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Almond Township]]
* Long Lake - [[Artichoke Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Artichoke Township]]
* Long Tom Lake - northeast edge in [[Otrey Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Otrey Township]], vast majority in [[Odessa Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Odessa Township]]
* Lysing Lake - vast majority in [[Almond Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Almond Township]], south edge in [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Marsh Lake - [[Akron Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Akron Township]]
* Moonshine Lake - [[Moonshine Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Moonshine Township]]
* Moulton Lake - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Mundweiler Lake - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Munnwyler Lake - [[Ortonville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Ortonville Township]]
* Olson Lake - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Olson Lake - [[Otrey Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Otrey Township]]
* Otrey Lake - [[Otrey Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Otrey Township]]
* Peterson Lake - [[Odessa Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Odessa Township]]
* South Rothwell Lake - north edge in [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]], vast majority in [[Almond Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Almond Township]]
* Smithwicks Lake - [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]]
* Swenson Lake - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* Twin Lakes - [[Big Stone Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone Township]]
* West Toqua Lake - [[Graceville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Graceville Township]]
* Walter Lake - [[Ortonville Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota|Ortonville Township]]
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Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2007/tgrshp2007.html|title=United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html|archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref>

===Major highways===
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* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 75]]
* [[Image:MN-7.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 7]]
* [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 28]]
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===Adjacent counties===
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* [[Traverse County, Minnesota|Traverse County]] - north
* [[Stevens County, Minnesota|Stevens County]] - northeast
* [[Swift County, Minnesota|Swift County]] - southeast
* [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle County]] - south
* [[Grant County, South Dakota]] - southwest
* [[Roberts County, South Dakota]] - northwest
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===Protected areas===
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* Big Stone Lake State Park
* [[Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* Big Stone Wildlife Management Preserve (part)
* Bonanza Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Clinton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Dismal Swamp State Wildlife Management Area
* Freed State Wildlife Management Area
* Lac qui Parle State Wildlife Management Area
* Otrey State Wildlife Management Area
* Reisdorph State Wildlife Management Area
* Victor State Wildlife Management Area
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