Minnesota is situated in the western north-central US at the northern rim of the Central Plains region. It is the largest of the midwestern states and ranks 12th in size among the 50 states. Minnesota covers a total area of 84,402 sq mi (218,601 sq km) of which 79,548 sq mi (206,029 sq km) are covered by land and 4,854 sq mi (12,572 sq km) by inland water.

Minnesota is bordered on the North by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario ; on the East by Michigan and Wisconsin; on the South by Iowa; and on the West by South Dakota and North Dakota.

Minnesota is the headquarters for three national Lutheran religious groups: the American Lutheran Church, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, and the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.