Editing Blaine, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|34.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|33.85|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.20|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> Blaine is <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|13|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}})</span> from [[Minneapolis]] and <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|20|mi|0|abbr=on}}</span> from [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]].

Blaine can be accessed from several major roadways in the Twin Cities, including [[Minnesota State Highway 65]], [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|Interstate 35W]], University Avenue, Lexington Avenue, Hamline Avenue, [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 10]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 610]].

===Major landforms===
The Blaine area was covered by a large glacier that shaped the landscape during the late Wisconsinan glaciation. The land used to be covered by river valleys 200 feet deep. The valleys filled with sediment. One valley ran northeast to southwest under Lino Lakes. As the glaciers retreated, the water gathered into a lake that covered much of Anoka County. Huge ice chunks were left in the glacier's wake. They melted and formed depressions that filled with water. This became the chain of lakes between Lino Lakes and Circle Pines.<ref>Blaine History. Norhart. Blaine Apartments. https://www.norhart.com/blaine/history</ref>

There are four major named water bodies partially or completely within the city limits. Sunrise Lake as part of The Lakes housing development is the largest body at 158 acres, with a depth near 40 feet in some places.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lakesofradissonblaine.com/community/sunrise-lake |title=Sunrise Lake - the Lakes of Radisson |access-date=February 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218142840/http://www.lakesofradissonblaine.com/community/sunrise-lake |archive-date=February 18, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The next largest body is Laddie Lake, the only naturally occurring lake in Blaine, which is also partially in Spring Lake Park, at 77 acres, reaching a maximum depth of six feet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=02007200|title=Fisheries Lake Surveys - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|website=dnr.state.mn.us|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> The next largest body is Club West Lake at 39 acres and depths up to 25 feet, also man-made, in the Club West Housing development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=02076400|title=LakeFinder - Lake Page - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|website=dnr.state.mn.us|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> The last named body of water in the city is Loch Ness; 11 acres, it is managed by the city and has a fishing dock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=02058500|title=Fisheries Lake Surveys - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|website=dnr.state.mn.us|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> Several other large bodies of water found around the TPC of the Twin Cities, Pleasure Creek Neighborhood, Knoll Creek Development, and Crescent Ponds are not classified as lakes.

Blaine is also creating a 500-acre open space plan. It started acquiring portions of the property in the late 1990s, but most of it was acquired after Blaine voters approved a $3.5 million referendum in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnewspapers.com/2014/08/05/concept-for-500-acre-open-space-site-in-blaine-approved/|title=Concept for 500-acre open space site in Blaine approved|first=Eric|last=Hagen|website=abcnewspapers.com|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> A tentative long-range plan calls for the construction of a nature center by 2020. The 70-acre Kane Meadows Park next to The Lakes development has been the centerpiece of this program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/local/north/257202331.html|title=Blaine to create 500-acre nature preserve|website=startribune.com|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>