Editing Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==
Lac qui Parle County is on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of [[South Dakota]]. The [[Minnesota River]] flows southeastward along the county's NE border, creating Marsh Lake and [[Lac qui Parle|Lac qui Parle Reservoir]]<ref>The reservoir was created by damming the Minnesota River in 1939. The dam was rebuilt in 1996.</ref> The Minnesota River flow is augmented by [[Yellow Bank River]] near the county's north corner, and by [[Lac qui Parle River]] near the county's east border. The south fork of the Yellow Bank flows northward through the west portion of the county, and meets the north fork of the Yellow Bank in the north end of the county; the combined flow discharges into the Minnesota at the county's NE border. The Lac qui Parle flows eastward through the lower portion of the county, discharging into the Minnesota near the community of Lac qui Parle.

The county terrain consists of rolling hills, knolls and short bluffs near the west end, running to a steep bluff overlooking the Minnesota River valley on its east border. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.<ref name=LQPCM>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lac+Qui+Parle+County,+MN/@45.0529129,-96.3756679,94932m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cb3a5e937ab2d3:0xc5ccf34405e9dd01!8m2!3d45.0562676!4d-96.2006981 ''Lac Qui Parle County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 18, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its SW corner, at {{convert|1,404|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Lac qui Parle County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 18, 2019) |access-date=March 18, 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> The county has a total area of {{convert|778|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|765|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|13|sqmi}} (1.7%) 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 21, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref>

The county's northern boundary is defined by the [[Minnesota River]]. Two tributaries, the [[Lac qui Parle River]] and the [[Yellow Bank River]], flow through the county to discharge into the Minnesota.<ref>{{cite book|title=Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer|year=1994|publisher=[[DeLorme]]|location=Yarmouth ME|isbn=0-89933-222-6|pages=36–37}}</ref>

[[Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)|Salt Lake]] is found the county's western border. The lake is the only [[Soda lake|alkaline lake]] in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Carly|date=August 11, 2022 |title=Rare Minnesota Lake is the Only Saltwater Lake in the State |url=https://kroc.com/salt-lake-only-saltwater-lake-in-minnesota/ |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=106.9 KROC |language=en}}</ref> Salt Lake is a popular bird watching location<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salt Lake WMA |url=https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/salt-lake-wma/2414 |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=Explore Minnesota |language=en}}</ref> because it is home to 145 species of birds that are not found other places in the area. Rare plants and insects have also been known to inhabit the region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2021 |title=Marietta's Salt Lake Is A Paradise For Birds And Bird Watchers - CBS Minnesota |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mariettas-salt-lake-is-a-paradise-for-birds-and-bird-watchers/ |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>      [[File:Lac qui Parle Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Lac qui Parle County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Bolland Slough
* Case Lake
* Flinks Slough (part)
* Kibler Lake
* [[Lac qui Parle]] (adjacent to county)
* Marsh Lake (adjacent to county)
* Mud Lake
* Pegg Lake
* Salt Lake (part)
* Swanson Lake<ref name=LQPCM/>
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
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* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 75#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 75]]
* [[Image:US 212 (MN).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 212]] 
* [[Image:MN-40.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 40]]
* [[Image:MN-119.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 119]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone County]] - north
* [[Swift County, Minnesota|Swift County]] - northeast
* [[Chippewa County, Minnesota|Chippewa County]] - east
* [[Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota|Yellow Medicine County]] - south
* [[Deuel County, South Dakota]] - southwest
* [[Grant County, South Dakota]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Acton Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
* [[Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* Borchardt-Rosin State Wildlife Management Area
* Church State Wildlife Management Area
* De Vorak State Wildlife Management Area
* Flinks State Wildlife Management Area
* Haydenville State Wildlife Management Area
* Kemen State Wildlife Management Area
* Kibler Scientific and Natural Area
* [[Lac qui Parle State Park]]
* Medicine Pipe State Wildlife Management Area
* Plantation State Wildlife Management Area
* Providence State Wildlife Management Area
* Sweetwater State Wildlife Management Area
* Wild Wings Baxter State Wildlife Management Area
* Yellow Bank Hills Scientific and Natural Area<ref name=LQPCM/>
{{div col end}}