Most of this area is within the Interior Plains, divided west-east through the Dakotas between the Great Plains and the Central Lowland. The northeastern part of Minnesota is, however, in the Superior Upland, part of the Laurentian Upland or Canadian Shield.
The Missouri River enters North Dakota from the west, then turns south to cross both of the Dakotas. The Mississippi River starts in northern Minnesota and twists its way south and east, becoming part of the state's border with Wisconsin.
Lake Superior's western end bounds northeastern Minnesota.
These states are in the part of North America in which English-speakers and Christians are the majority.
In the Western Lake Section, on the Upper Mississippi, is Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its twin city, St. Paul, the state capital, is just east of it on the opposite bank.
In the southwest corner of South Dakota were the Cheyenne, an Algonquian group, with about 2000 living speakers in all states.
In northeastern Minnesota were Ojibway, another Algonquian group, with about 80,000 remaining speakers, mostly in Canada.
Siouan languages such as Hidatsa, Mandan, Teton Sioux, Ponca and Sioux were spoken throughout all this area except northeast Minnesota. The area's old religion included the Plains Vision Quest, Sun Dance and Sacred Pipe.
In north central South Dakota were a Caddoan group, the Arikara.
The French were the first Europeans to arrive, following the waterways. Part of the area was claimed by English speakers by the end of the 18th century and the rest by early in the 19th and their settlements overwhelmed the French presence. Indigionous people were violently displaced.
northeast
east southeast across the Lake Superior from northeastern Minnesota
east from central and southern Minnesota
south of Minnesota and South Dakota
west
north of North Dakota and northwest Minnesota