Editing Houston County, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==
Houston County is at Minnesota's southeast corner. Its eastern border abuts [[Wisconsin]] (across the [[Mississippi River]]) and its southern border abuts [[Iowa]]. The Mississippi flows south-southeast along its eastern border. The [[Root River (Minnesota)|Root River]] flows east through the northern part of the county, discharging into the Mississippi. Pine Creek flows east-southeast through the northeastern part of the county to discharge into the Mississippi, while Crooked Creek flows east across the southern part of the county to discharge into the Mississippi. The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills on its western end, transitioning to hills carved with drainages toward the east.<ref name="HCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Houston+County,+MN/@43.6143455,-91.4083394,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87fbe0dae5e2916f:0x535deceda410257b!8m2!3d43.7051652!4d-91.443469 ''Houston County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019)]</ref> The central and western portion of the county is a plateau with its highest point at {{convert|1,273|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL, near its southwest corner.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Houston County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|569|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|552|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|17|sqmi}} (2.9%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |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 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

[[File:Northern Houston County MN.jpg|thumb|Driftless scenery in Houston County]]

The county is in the [[Coulee Region|Driftless Zone]], marked by the absence of glacial drift and presence of [[bedrock]] cut by streams into steep hills. The plateau that surrounds Caledonia includes flat, fertile farmland and hilly, verdant pasture land. [[File:Houston Co 2016 No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Houston County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]] [[File:Beaver Creek Valley State Park.jpg|thumb|right|Soils of Beaver Creek Valley State Park neighborhood]]

===Lakes===
The [[Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge]] runs along the county's eastern border. Four lakes in the refuge fall within the county:<ref name=HCM/>

{{div col}}
* Blue Lake
* Hayshore Lake
* Lawrence Lake
* Target Lake
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===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona County]] - north
* [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin]] - northeast
* [[Vernon County, Wisconsin]] - east
* [[Allamakee County, Iowa]] - south
* [[Winneshiek County, Iowa]] - southwest
* [[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Beaver Creek Valley State Park
* Mound Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* [[Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge]] (part)
<ref name=HCM/>