Minnesota Shaped Forest, Minnesota

Created by a Department of Natural Resources forester named Bill Lockner in 1991, apparently on a whim. It was done by clearing away stagnant Jack Pines in the middle of a forest of them, to make a clearing in the shape of the state of Minnesota, around 1,200 feet by 900 feet in size. He used only a compass and hip chain (used for measuring distances). No GPS or any other surveying tools were used. He then planted Red Pine in the clearing. By 2003, satellite images show these Red Pines growing up and the shape if the state disappearing amidst the surrounding Jack Pines. Sometime around 2009 the Jack Pines were culled from around the Red Pines, and the shape of the state became distinct again. The plan is to maintain this grove of Red Pines in the shape of the state, clear of surrounding trees, for the foreseeable future, as its now a state landmark.