RRINR news
While conducting research on the natural environment in central Minnesota, John Sandy, former head of the Natural Resources Library, University of Minnesota Duluth, recently collected data on elevations of land in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. In the course of this work, an important discovery was made.
Sources say the highest point of elevation in Otter Tail County is at a place called Inspiration Peak in Leaf Mountain Township. The Geographic Names Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey lists Inspiration Peak (Feature ID 645430) at 1,726 feet (526 meters). On a Web page published by Otter Tail County, the elevation of Inspiration Peak is reported as 1,750 feet. But a higher peak exists in another part of the county, about four miles northeast of Inspiration Peak.
Using a tool called MnTOPO from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Sandy located a peak northeast of Urbank which rises to an elevation of 1,800.05 feet (548.65 meters). This newly discovered peak in Section 32, Folden Township, is about 73 feet higher in elevation than Inspiration Peak.
MnTOPO uses a sophisticated technology called LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to measure land elevations. Data gathered in this way is fully accurate.
Coordinates for the unnamed peak in Folden Township: Latitude 46.19854 Longitude -95.50118 (DD) or 46°11′54.744″ N 95°30′4.248″ W (DMS).
This discovery may benefit travel officials and others in Otter Tail County in countless ways. Not the least of which is recognition that central Minnesota has amazing natural features which rival what’s found in other areas of the state. How this newly discovered peak in Otter Tail County ranks among highest points in each of the 87 counties in Minnesota is not known at this time. But in the top 10, likely.
A prominent feature on the land, such as this peak, merits a special name, says Sandy. The process for approval of special names for lakes, mountains, and other natural features begins with 15 or more registered voters in a county submitting a petition to the County Board of Commissioners for a public hearing and is governed by a Minnesota statute. The newly discovered peak in Otter Tail County is waiting.
by John H. Sandy
Digital access of this article
