Mountain Iron Mine, Minnesota

The Mountain Iron Mine may be the largest operating iron mine in the nation, in output. It is a pit and plant operated as U.S. Steel's Minntac operation, to provide taconite, a source of iron ore, to its steel plants. In the mid 1900s, iron ore extracted from underground mines of the area gave way to a less pure but more easily extracted form of iron, drawn from a rock called taconite. Taconite is 20-30% iron, which is processed into pellets at plants next to the extraction pits. It is then shipped by rail and boats on the Great Lakes to the steel mills of America, and beyond. The Wacootah Overlook overlooks the Minntac operation from across the road. The large plant and massive pit are visible in the distance, beyond the gated access road. It is one of a half a dozen or so remaining operations in the Mesabi Range, and the broader Iron Range, which extends for 90 miles. US Steel also operates the Keetac plant and mine near Keewatin.